Tuesday, I was tired at work. And rather cranky.
...I was dreading my run.
...but I was dreading taking a "day off" even more.
Last year at some point, I got in the habit of never taking a day off. Sure I'd take easy days, but would never take a day to do absolutely no exercise. On one level, I know this is silly. Any structured team I have ever been on, even a Division I Collegiate team gave us a day off each week. And I always took it. I rested, I did work, I stayed in my PJ's for most of the day...and I rarely got injured. But for the past couple years, I've been around people that never take a day off of RUNNING, nevermind a total day of rest! So even though I know I need to listen to my own internal cues, I cannot help feeling insecure and slothlike taking a total day off.
On Tuesday, I swallowed my pride and made the executive decision that a 1 hour nap would do me much more good than a 1 hour run. I took a nap. I woke up. I felt awesome. I had great, quality workouts the following 2 days: A 1 hour row with pyramid intervals and a 1 hour run at 7 min per mile pace on Wednesday, and a 1 hour run with 4 by 4 minutes of challenging hills on Thursday. I had energy to get school and advising work done. It was a great 2nd half of the week!
Would I have felt the same if I went for an hour run Tuesday? Maybe, but probably not. In the past when I have felt similarly, I have run myself into the ground complaining how tired I am day after day, expecting it to get better somehow....and then I usually get sick or injured.
Moral of the story: I will take days off more often. My body always thanks me graciously.
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