Rest Days
“Overtraining is the biggest problem incurred by runners who lack the experience or discipline to cope with their own enthusiasm”-Marty Liquori
“During the hard training phase never be afraid to take a day off. If your legs are feeling unduly stiff and sore, rest; if you are at all sluggish, rest; in fact, if in doubt, rest.” -Bruce Fordyce
“Just remember this: No one ever won the olive wreath with an impressive training diary.” -Marty Liquori
Just a few thoughts on today, my rest day. It is really hard for me to take rest days. I have come to depend on the energy and mood boost that running gives me so much, that on the days I don’t run I feel like a sloth. But I know I need the rest days, some people can go everyday without taking a day off , but I can’t. My performance starts to suffer if I go for more than a week without a break. When I try to take short rest runs I usually extend the mileage I am supposed to run or I run it all out and exhaust myself, neither of which is good for a rest recovery day. When I started training for the 3M half marathon, I had a training plan I was supposed to follow. I had a hard time with it because at the time I had been exercising 2 hours a day/6 days a week. This plan called for a lot less activity and two days of complete rest. So on the days I was supposed to be off or just run 2 miles, I would go to the gym and work my whole body and I went over the mileage suggested. Pretty soon the knees started hurting and I was worn out. Then my ITB started hurting. I took a week to reevaluate my training, I eased back into the plan and stuck to it. I did nothing but the running for the month before my race and I felt rested and ready. I was able to increase my speed by following the plan and did not feel overtrained. I have learned that for me to see improvements in my running and to run pain free I need to take rest days, even if I don’t want to. I do cross train on some of my non running days, usually rowing, upper body weights and core work. But I make sure I take one day off completely from strenuous exercise, whether I like it or not.
Here is a good article about rest/recovery days:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285–8256-0,00.html
Slow and Steady Still Finishes the Race
-Middalia Wayman
Filed under: Running Blog
Rest days are hard for me, too, but I don’t run on Fridays or Mondays. I have to take them off or my knees take a hit, the ITBS for me too. Pllus I get run down. On my Friday rest day I really enjoy it because I do only core and arm work and feel I get a great workout on that day because that is ALL I am doing, and I have time. On Mondays I do nothing at all! And even though that day is kind of tough for me, I enjoy it overall.
I love rest days. As you increase your mileage with marathon training, you’ll probably find that your rest days make you much stronger. Rest is so important – it is on those days that we really build our strength. Think of them as rewards for working hard on the other days : )
Rest days always feel a bit double. On the one hand, I know that they make you stronger and allow your body to recover. On the one hand, I always get a bit edgy.