Last night I spent the evening sipping wine, catching up on my overflowing inbox and doing some reading all from the comfort of my couch.
One thing I promised myself when I started marathon training was that I would listen to my body and give it rest when it asked for rest. That’s why it’s been easier for me to plan out my weeks one at a time, so I can really assess how busy I am with other things – like social activities and work – during each week and then plan my workouts around those things.
Yesterday I had “5:15 PM – yoga?” in my planner. The question mark was there because I added it in as an afterthought since I took Monday as a rest day already this week. But yesterday morning I woke up feeling really, really tired. Like could barely drag myself out of bed tired. I continued to feel tired through most of the work day.
After work I headed out for my usual walk with Chloe and on-the-spot decided that I would walk an extra 10 minutes with Chloe rather than go to the 90 minute yoga class I’d been thinking about. I still got a little bit of movement in but it was definitely more of a rest day since my walks with Chloe are more like a leisurely stroll!
Oh, and then I planked before bed. 1:30 was REALLY hard for me. My ultimate goal is a 3:00 plank but I have a long ways to go.
It was obviously just what I needed because this morning I leapt (OK, leapt is a strong word but I wasn’t as tired as I usually am at 5:30 AM) out of bed for my 5-mile run!! It was my first run all by myself in my full four weeks of training, which felt a little weird to be honest. Especially since it was on the same route I usually run with a friend or my group. The last two weeks haven’t looked like what I thought they would training-wise but I’ve been listening to what my body needs and I think that’s most important!
Off to work I go. Happy Friday!
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Question of the day: Anyone else in training for a spring marathon or race and find your body is asking for more rest than you planned to give it? What is everyone up to this weekend?
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
i don’t even think i can plank for 30sec. good luck getting to 3:00
I’m training for a spring half and working on incorporating a lot more cross training and active rest days w/yoga. I know I can run a half, but I want to run better in this one, and for me that means shaking things up a bit. I’m totally on board with listening to your body and giving it what it needs!
Well, I’m not training for anything, but I have been running longer distances than I ever did before, AND getting up early on school days to workout. Some days I’m just too exhausted to even consider working out, and I think those are the days it’s most important to just give yourself a break. I didn’t listen to my body before, and that’s how I ended up with a messed up ankle and knee. That is a mistake I won’t make again.
I love getting up at 5:30, sort of, maybe? (this week I’ve done all morning yoga due to having lots of stuff in the evening!) That’s an amazing time for a plank! I’m at a limit of about 1 minute still.
I’m not training for anything but I’ve found myself SO tired this week – even when I go to bed early! Maybe it’s the dreary weather? Topher’s having a sleepover at his Grandma and Grandpa’s house tonight so my weekend plans – at least for tomorrow! – involve catching up on sleep
Way to listen to your body! So important. Your last night is the night I hope to have tonight. This week has been HARD and all I want to do is relax. I can’t wait.
I had some nasty hip/knee/foot pain so I took a week and a bit off and did Bikram instead of my runs. I feel amazing now.
I think it’s totally fine to take a rest day when you need it! When I was training for the marathon, I only ran 4-5 days a week. Maybe I would have been faster if I would have run more, but I wanted to make sure I didn’t overtire myself! And it worked! I think that it’s good to be realistic and not too hard on yourself!
That’s exactly why I have a very loose training plan this time around. Seems my body isn’t responding as favorably when I train inside vs outside.
I have a really hard time running by myself when it’s more than three or four miles – and it’s going to have to start happening soon in my half marathon training! Any advice you can offer (other than a tried and true iPod) would be much appreciated!
Nice work on the rest, Amber. My body hasn’t felt too run down lately, but I’m sort of waiting for that to happen. I also think I could start upping my weekly mileage, but not sure if I really want to do that. For now, I’m just plugging away and trying to take Tuesdays easier.
Good for you for listening to your body. I got like that during my last round of training last year and you are much better off for listening to your body rather then pushing through.
I admire you for training for a marathon. I don’t think I’d be able to do that…. but taking a rest day is definitely a good thing from the training perspective.
Sounds like you did just the right thing by listening to what your body wanted and it paid off! I am not currently training for anything (I just can’t make up my mind!) but am definitely trying to decide what my next race should be.
Look at you being all smart and listening to your body and stuff. Good for you!
Man, planking is SO hard. I should do one today. I think I can only do a minute though!
I definitely think you need to listen to your body especially since you’ve been sick recently. Glad you did! I definitely need a glass of wine, asap. This weekend is hopefully going to be quite relaxing for me and I’m excited about it.
I can only hold a plank for 30 seconds! I hope to work up to 90! Way to go , I am sure you’ll make your goal of 3 minutes! You are half way there.
I can’t even say I am training for anything right now… I am running a half in March, but haven’t ran in over a week and probably won’t run until some time next week. So it will be a slow race for me, which is ok! And my plans this weekend are to study.
Hey old friend, I hear ya on the listening to your body. Mine has been asking for more rest as well. I’m not sure why, but some days I can sleep almost 9 hours and still want more. I am starting to do more 5Ks as of late and am really enjoying them. glad to hear things are going well!
I think more people need to listen to their bodies! It’s great that you do. Good luck with your training!
That looks like a lovely night! I need to be better about listening to myself when it says I need a break.
Not training for anything … but my body is asking for rest right now. I am totally exhausted after a wonderful, but busy weekend.