2-6pm?
Our peak strength during the day can vary greatly from person to person, depending on numerous factors such as sleep patterns, diet, exercise routines, and even genetic predisposition. However, some studies suggest that for many people, physical performance may peak in the late afternoon to early evening. This is thought to be due to a combination of factors including body temperature, hormone levels like testosterone and cortisol, and the alignment of circadian rhythms with the time of day.
In this period, typically between 2 pm and 6 pm, body temperature is at its highest, which can increase muscle flexibility, enzyme activity, and endurance. It’s also a time when reaction time might be quicker, and heart rate and blood pressure are optimal for physical exertion.
It’s intriguing to think about how this might intersect with unorthodox training times or philosophies of fitness that challenge conventional wisdom. The Spartans, for instance, were known for their rigorous and relentless training regimes, but detailed records of the timing of their training are lost to history. However, modern interpretations of Stoicism might argue that one should train when it’s most challenging, which could very well be at one’s subjective non-peak times, to foster mental and physical fortitude.