James asks: I have returned to running after a long hiatus, so I feel like a beginner again. Of course, many things have changed, but I am definitely noticing that my legs are not bouncing back from my runs as well as they used too. Any suggestions for aiding recovery?

What’s most important is that you are listening to your body and noticing these differences. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to slow recovery, and brutal summer weather conditions may be part of it. Regardless of the cause, there are several things you can do to assist the recovery process.

Runners typically have a “training” plan, but rarely a “recovery” plan. Be proactive and make a postrun recovery plan to follow after every run.