Monday, April 4, 2011

Everyone needs to REST sometimes


I don't like to rest.  Don't get me wrong; I LOVE to sleep.  But when it comes to taking a break from my regular daily workout I have a hard time doing it.  I workout six days a week, and my rest day is always Sunday.  Life doesn't always agree with this schedule, and there were a lot of factors playing against me last week.  My husband was overseas and left over a weekend, my littlest one did not feel well, my youngest daughter had her first step toward full orthodontics and she had a hard time eating.  Her lack of food only compounded her difficult moods, and on top of everything else I am training for my first marathon.  I was good about getting my miles in at the beginning of the week.  Ran 6 on Monday and Tuesday, then another 4 on Wednesday.  Thursday was going to be my rest day since I was going to do my long run on Friday.  (Saturday was booked up with the first dance competition of the year.)  Thursday rolled around and I told myself not to do anything.  Just rest.  I did it and it was nice.  Then I woke up Friday and felt sick.  Ugg.  I must have got what my youngest guy had, plus a mix of being tired from not having a full night's sleep since my husband left....and it was raining, of course.  So I knew there was no way I was going to run anywhere.  I could have gone to the gym but I was just not feeling great and told myself not to go.  At one point, I even put on my workout clothes thinking I could totally handle a class at the gym, but once I got in the car I talked myself out of it.  Long story summed up (too late) Saturday was consumed by dance so three whole days went by and not a single workout was done. It was weird.  I didn't know what to do with myself.  I woke up Sunday and thought maybe I should go for a short little run.  Like I said I never workout on Sundays.  But I had a little time and I laced up my shoes.  I wasn't going to run more then five.  And I was going to go slow.  I started going and it felt so good.  My legs were not tired from pushing them all week.  My energy was great.  I was loving it!  I loved it so much that I got my TEN miles in!!  I know that I was able to do it and enjoy it because I took those days off.  Which is why REST is so very important.  You need to force yourself do it.  That is the time for your body to recover, so you can improve on your next run.  I know that I will really be resting on my rest days now.  Just need to try to convince my husband now.  Did I convince any of you??

2 comments:

  1. Im right there with you Heath, 6 days of full workouts. I am going to try and rest fully on fridays instead of cross train but you and I both now how that is really going to go ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I completely agree as well. If you aren't rested it suks.

    ReplyDelete

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