Rest

Usually by this time I'll be done with my workout, laying on the floor and cooling down after cooling down.

Right now, this is my view

Spirit of the Marathon loading on Netflix and a bowl of oatmeal with frozen blueberries drizzled in honey, my favorite.

I have this weird thing where I will wake up after four hours of sleep. I usually don't knock back out unless I'm super tired of I'm in vacation, and I guess last night I was neither super duper tired- just tired, or in vacation.  I slept pretty early, for me that means anytime before 3 am, but I still woke up 4 hours later and I couldn't sleep.  But I woke up sore.  I forget that for me when I do P90x arms & shoulders the soreness doesn't kick in till a couple of days later.  The push ups? Thats like after the first one, haha! But I woke up and my entire upper body was, and still is, sore.  I was thinking of doing yoga, but I remembered this quote:

Activity isn't always progress; sometimes it's just activity. Rest is always rest

-Bob Goff

Bog Goff is neither a runner or a P90x-er. But he is one of the most inspiring person I know.  He does a lot of philantrophic work and really has a heart after the people. If you want to learn more about him, "Friend" him on Facebook or add him on Twitter.

Anyway, was thinking about that quote and how its true.  As a runner, I love being out there and running.  There are days when I don't want to be out there, there are days when I have to push myself to be out there, but I love it.  Same applies to working out, I always feel the need to be busy.  To be doing something, anything just to be out there.

But there is truth in that: activity isn't always progress. Sometimes when we do something (run too much, work out too much, or other things that isn't related to fitness) we can be doing more harm than good.  This quote is a great reminder that a little down time is a good thing.  That recovery time is necessary so we don't waste all our hard work. Its also good for the mind. 

I'm a type of person who will run to get her mind off things, and my mind has been on a lot of things lately.  I'm learning that running to resolve those things isn't a bad thing, but endorphins doesn't replace rest.  The peace of mind that comes after running doesn't replace an honest talk.  Resolution doesn't come after mile 10, but it comes when we learn to face it head on.  So while I still run to get my mind off things, I also rest to get my mind of things, with the knowledge that neither those two things alone will resolve anything, but they sure help me a lot. Resting to get my mind of things for me is like watching Spirit of the Marathon; it always gets me bawling, and its inspirational movies like this that make me happy, gives my legs a rest, & still motivates me like I'm training.  Have you seen the movie? Its on Netflix. I dare you to watch it and not get inspired! But its true, rest is a big part of training.

Sure its just yoga, but I know my body will appreciate this rest from working out and that means I'll be fresher for my hilly half this weekend.  I could have been like "screw it" and worked out my arms & shoulders again and be miserable this weekend and actually didn't help myself since my  muscles didn't have enough time to recover. So I think this morning's alternative is a very good thing. Oatmeal, blueberries, honey, & Spirit of the Marathon.

Resting Run..? 08/17/11

Today was supposed to be a rest day but since I wanted to get outside and just be outside I decided to pretty much just go for a mile. Walk, run, roll. Anything.

I'm still super bummed about my 7 miler. Haha. 30 minutes added when I only added one mile?

LAME CAT! SUPER LAME!

I'm still so amazed when I read about runners who run like 20 miles like its nothing. Like every other day, 20 miles. The other days? 10 miles.

Man. So jealous.

I don't think I'll ever be at that level cuz these folks are like Josh Cox who run for a living, but man. wouldn't it be awesome?

Hahaha.

So yeah, I just logged this cuz now I'm at 80 miles in Nike + and that makes me happy.

But in a way its like leveling up in COD. You can level up and prestige as long as you keep playing. It doesn't matter if you're improving or not.

But in a way, as you play- as you run- if you keep at it and want to improve, you will.

Right?

RIGHT!

07/30/11 NO Training Run

My immunity seemingly shut down overnight.

Its pretty bad right now and my muscles are still sore like crazy.

I may have to re-think my, or lack of, a post workout/run recovery strategy.

I bet a lot of it is from not eating properly post and pre-run, but more so post run. Or both. I think both is important but I'm probably not fueling my body for proper recovery which would make sense if my immune system is also affected.

I need to remember that running is "strain" on the body. Is it really a strain or am I making that up? I think its a strain. So it shall be!!! So is working out. And now that I'm back on that P90x boat with a vengeance its like double whammy for my body. I wasn't supposed to run today but since I did very little running in SoCal, I wanted to get a run in. But the way things lined up, or didn't line up, it was meant for a rest day.

Instead of running, I caught up with a friend and it was good for me to talk to someone about working out and running and sharing life together. Its easy to "get lost" in this journey and feel like I'm alone. For me anyway. And talking to my friend helped me to just get my bearings straight and to do this "properly" and not take short cuts or "cheat" in ways that will probably do more harm than good.

For those just getting into a work out regimen or a running routine, resting is a very good thing. Rest days aren't my favorite because I feel like I should be there doing something because I can be, but I know that my body will ultimately benefit from rest. I admit, I'm not the best at taking rest days, so the way that things fell together today is probably a gentle prod from the Man above reminding me to take it easy.

I'm going to take a shower, and maybe a pain killer because that 6AM P90x is starting to catch up to me. I'm focusing on my arms because I haven't been and they need to be toned up!