Rest

I've been going pretty hard for the last two months, incrementally increasing my mileage and intensity with just one week in May when I took about 10 miles out of my week. I've known that I needed to program in some rest but wasn't sure when to do it. After running Coosa last weekend, I was pretty sure that this past week would be ideal, coming off some really great weeks and then a big day on June 18. (Coosa loop, plus DRT over to Blood Mountain to Neels Gap and then back to finish Coosa for about 22 miles and 6K of vert)

I took Father's Day off and then decided to do some easy running on Tuesday for Run Club and then a difficult track workout on Wednesday, and then rest all week. The track work was intense for me, relative to what I've been doing since last summer:

3X800 in @ 2:55-3:00 with full recovery, followed by a 1600 with negative splits for a 6:15 total. I knew afterward that my right knee was going to feel the pain, and it sure did. Even if I hadn't planned on resting for the next several days, after that workout I had no choice.

But I have really learned to appreciate a good rest week. And, perhaps most importantly, how to TRULY rest, which has little to do with simply not running. What do I mean?

I feel that rest isn't just about not running or getting more sleep. Those things are the start, of course, but this week I took it to another level. Not only did I sleep a bit more and severely cut my mileage; I took a break from 'Being A Runner"

I ate what I wanted, when I wanted. I drank more beer. I didn't fret about missing runs. I didn't worry about losing fitness. I spent more time chilling with my kids. And here's the kicker: Since I had had so many good weeks in a row...

I knew I was getting FASTER while resting. My knee is back to respectable and I'm mentally recharged and ready for a few weeks of really great running!

Stats This Week:
12 Miles total
1 quality speed session

Next week's goal is to get +40 miles again as I build toward 50+ miles weeks into the Fall.
Happy trails!