Fit on Paper - But What About Recovery?
- Unite2bwell
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
What happens when your body performs like an athlete, but your recovery signals don’t quite match?
High VO₂ Max - Low HRV?
According to my Garmin, I’m in the top 5% for cardiovascular fitness for my age and gender.
My VO₂ Max sits at 54, placing me in the superior range; my endurance is not an issue. My energy levels are Solid. It should all point to peak performance, and to a certain degree, it does. But scroll to the HRV section, and the story begins to shift.
When Pain Disrupts Recovery
My overnight HRV averages around 40ms, occasionally dipping below that. Not exactly disastrous, but well below my daytime highs, which can climb into the 90s. Garmin calls it “balanced”; I’d call it misleading without context.
I’ve had ongoing shoulder issues for years. Most of the day, it’s manageable. But at night, things change. I often wake when I turn, not fully, but just enough to disturb deeper sleep cycles. Garmin does not miss these micro-awakenings.
Throw in a few work-related stressors, and you’ve got a recovery cocktail that isn’t always visible until you look closely.
Fit But Not Fully Recovered
The contrast between my elite VO₂ Max and middling HRV raises questions, not about my training, but about what the body prioritises overnight and how wearables interpret that. It’s not a sign of failure. It’s a reminder that performance and recovery are not always in sync.
What This Teaches Us at Work
This isn’t just about sport. It reflects in leadership, too. You can be present, delivering results, holding the line, and still carry silent friction. Your team might never see it. Neither might your manager. But it adds up. Discomfort, Pressure, Micro-interruptions. Not burnout, just resistance.
In those moments, it’s easy to dismiss the signals. To see them as noise. But resilience isn’t about ignoring pressure. It’s about understanding what your system is quietly managing and adapting.
💡 What I’m Taking from This
You can be physiologically fit but neurologically frayed
Chronic pain doesn’t just hurt; it alters recovery signals
HRV is a compass, not a verdict
True resilience means recognising hidden strain in yourself and others
Closing Insight
I’m never fully reliant on what my Garmin tells me. The data serves as a useful mirror, but it is not the full story. I use it as one signal among many.
Resilience isn’t broken, it’s adapting. And that’s what matters most.
Steve longhorn - Founder, Unite2bwell - Challenging the way we measure resilience
Comments