Runningmonkeys

I love running.  In fact I love a whole lot of active pursuits.  That is why I used to question the value of a day off training.

Why would I want to deliberately stop myself from doing what I love?  Would I not be harming my progress and holding myself back if I don’t train every day?

What I understand now about recovery has made the situation a whole lot more clear.  Constantly beating my body will not make me any fitter.  Constantly wearing down muscles will not allow them to grow.  It is only when my body has a chance to rebuild itself that I will progress.  This happens on a day to day basis, as well as over the course of a week or a month.  The best thing I can do to make the most of my training is to allow myself to recover, and that is what a rest day is all about. 

On top of physical wear and tear, day in day out training can become mentally and emotionally draining.  The grind of getting up early every day and cranking out a work out without a break can quickly cut my motivation.  If my week has a rest day programed in, I work towards it and I have even come to long for it.  When I am training hard, I look forward to recovering fully and then getting back into it on the next day.  It re-energises my intentions, re-fuels my fire and simply lets me catch up.

Today is Monday and Monday is my rest day.  On a rest day I may take a walk, do some stretching or something else low intensity, but I will not “train”.  I am deliberately giving my body, mind and soul a break, and I know that I will be the better for it on Tuesday.  My rest day is my most valuable source of progress