In which the author clears up a small misconception... or, “You snooze, you win!”
My husband and I have made great ::ahem:: strides to maintain consistency throughout the holidays. With training for the spring race season beginning at the end of the month, we felt it was pretty important to keep a good maintenance schedule. We’ve done our best to stick to the five days run/ two days rest scheme and cut down our off-season mileage to allow for proper healing. For the most part, it has kept our sanity in tact and did a great job minimizing the appearance of all those Christmas cookies.
But above all, I have to remember that we’re still in rest time. Today was no exception.
This morning’s alarm went off as it usually does - somewhere between 4:45 and 5:15. (We set our clock fast so it looks like it’s later than it really is, but this morning it fooled no one.) What is usually a sound that brings about the alertness associated with the excitement of clipping off some great morning miles, today’s alarm didn’t fit that bill. It startled us both awake with all the warm fuzziness of a cranky feral cat in heat.
We lay there, hazily watching the morning weather (it was still 25F). And we lay there some more. Fifteen minutes pass and we both decide that rest is more important this morning. After some righteous speed work yesterday (8 miles with 6 Yasso 800s) I wasn’t about to turn down some more rest, and we eventually agreed to get in those miles this afternoon. The cognitive dissonance of planning to run and then not running had me feeling a bit off this morning, but the half an hour lie-in and light Pilates were wonderful. The best bit was that my legs ached to run after work... but they didn’t ache because I ran.
As I chased the sunset this evening, I felt rejuvenated. The day and workweek waned, but I felt as though I was just getting started. And it was wonderful.
You know, when folks ask me about running, I get the sense that they think I’m some kind of robot. They sometimes guffaw when they hear about weekly or daily mileage, or the race medals in my office. Sure, it’s a regimented lifestyle, but they shouldn’t speak ill of robots like that. There’s wiggle room in the off-season and while we yearn for the next race, we all know the importance of the rest period. It’s a time to sleep in until the sun comes up. A time to leave the Garmin at home (not a problem if yours is cranky like mine). A time to recuperate and let muscles heal. And, occasionally, a time to shove as many leftover Christmas cookies as possible into my mouth.
Hey, they have to go somewhere...
My husband and I have made great ::ahem:: strides to maintain consistency throughout the holidays. With training for the spring race season beginning at the end of the month, we felt it was pretty important to keep a good maintenance schedule. We’ve done our best to stick to the five days run/ two days rest scheme and cut down our off-season mileage to allow for proper healing. For the most part, it has kept our sanity in tact and did a great job minimizing the appearance of all those Christmas cookies.
But above all, I have to remember that we’re still in rest time. Today was no exception.
This morning’s alarm went off as it usually does - somewhere between 4:45 and 5:15. (We set our clock fast so it looks like it’s later than it really is, but this morning it fooled no one.) What is usually a sound that brings about the alertness associated with the excitement of clipping off some great morning miles, today’s alarm didn’t fit that bill. It startled us both awake with all the warm fuzziness of a cranky feral cat in heat.
We lay there, hazily watching the morning weather (it was still 25F). And we lay there some more. Fifteen minutes pass and we both decide that rest is more important this morning. After some righteous speed work yesterday (8 miles with 6 Yasso 800s) I wasn’t about to turn down some more rest, and we eventually agreed to get in those miles this afternoon. The cognitive dissonance of planning to run and then not running had me feeling a bit off this morning, but the half an hour lie-in and light Pilates were wonderful. The best bit was that my legs ached to run after work... but they didn’t ache because I ran.
As I chased the sunset this evening, I felt rejuvenated. The day and workweek waned, but I felt as though I was just getting started. And it was wonderful.
You know, when folks ask me about running, I get the sense that they think I’m some kind of robot. They sometimes guffaw when they hear about weekly or daily mileage, or the race medals in my office. Sure, it’s a regimented lifestyle, but they shouldn’t speak ill of robots like that. There’s wiggle room in the off-season and while we yearn for the next race, we all know the importance of the rest period. It’s a time to sleep in until the sun comes up. A time to leave the Garmin at home (not a problem if yours is cranky like mine). A time to recuperate and let muscles heal. And, occasionally, a time to shove as many leftover Christmas cookies as possible into my mouth.
Hey, they have to go somewhere...
