Knowing when...

...to take a rest day is one of the most important, but also one of the hardest, lessons to learn.  We're runners.  We think we're super human.  We could run and run and run....until we can't.

Lately, I've been running myself into the ground.  I run.  I lift.  I run some more.  Then I go to kickball practice.  And after hip hop class, I run again.  Last night and this morning I was cranky, sore, run down, and so much more.  My body was screaming for a rest day as loathe as I am to take a whole day off (as much as I could give it one, because after all, I have my hip hop class on Mondays).

I feel almost as worn out and stretched to the max as I did in January when I went on a 31 day running streak.  (I felt a certain level of accomplishment, but I've never been more tired and close to real injury as going 31 days without a rest day.)

Yes, it's true.  I have a hard time remembering that my body needs rest as much as it needs the workout.  In fact, without the rest, my body will never realize the benefits to or improvements gained from the workouts.

What happens to your body on rest day?  I like this graphic....it's a quick and easy reminder of

all the good your body gains on that day without much purposeful physical exertion.

How can you tell when you need a rest day?  More often than not, our bodies will actually be screaming at us when rest day is needed, but, again, we're all super human so we ignore the screams and keeping pressing on.  Therefore, it is incumbent upon us as athletes to take stock from time to time of all the things our body is silently saying.  This Runner's World article from July 2016 is a great tool to help you think about the cues your body is using to tell you to take that dreaded rest day:

http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/10-signs-that-you-need-a-rest-day.


And if you still haven't figured it out?  Call me....I'll talk you off the workout ledge and into a pair of comfy shoes and recovery clothes.  Happy trails!!!


2017 miles to date:  No more than yesterday....didn't you get that?  Today was rest day.


Observations:  A couple of muscles are nagging at me from overtraining, and my energy levels are tanked.  Will be starting fresh tomorrow.