Whether you're training for a marathon, cycling long distances, swimming laps, or simply trying to improve your fitness, cardiovascular endurance is key to achieving your goals. While most people focus on logging more miles or increasing workout intensity, one of the most effective ways to improve endurance happens after your workout is over: sleep.
Sleep is when your body repairs tissues, restores energy stores, regulates hormones, and prepares your heart, lungs, muscles, and brain for the next day. Without enough quality sleep, endurance performance can decline, workouts may feel harder, and recovery may take longer.
If you want to maximize your aerobic fitness, sleep should be considered just as important as your training plan.