Which characteristic is NOT associated with overtraining syndrome?

In the context of overtraining syndrome, the characteristic that is not typically associated is an increase in levels of preparedness. Overtraining syndrome occurs when an athlete experiences excessive training without adequate recovery, leading to various negative physiological and psychological effects.

Increased resting heart rate is a common symptom of overtraining, as the body is under stress and may struggle to recover effectively. Similarly, increased tension and anxiety are psychological indicators that can arise due to the body's heightened stress response when overtraining occurs. Additionally, a decline in physical performance is a hallmark of overtraining syndrome; rather than improving, an athlete may actually find their performance deteriorating despite continued training efforts.

In contrast, the notion of increased levels of preparedness would suggest that an athlete is ready to perform well, which is the opposite of what occurs in overtraining syndrome. Athletes experiencing overtraining do not feel prepared to compete or engage in high-level performances due to fatigue and accumulated stress. Thus, identifying increased preparedness as a non-associated characteristic is accurate in distinguishing between healthy training adaptations and the detrimental effects of overtraining.