This is sort of embarrassing to admit but Sister and I have a small obsession with ABC Family movies that are on Netflix. They are honestly very ridiculous but yet ridiculous in such a way that we cannot stop seeking one out when we want to watch something that is not at all serious… Our current favorite = Fake Fiance. I half suspect the real reason we both like this movie is because Joey Lawrence is in it. How had I never watched him in anything until recently?
(This is going somewhere, I promise!) So anyways, not to totally ruin this movie for you 
but there is a point in the movie where Joey’s character, Vince, goes to Gamblers Anonymous and his words of wisdom for the group are “Know when to hold them, and when to fold them”. Maybe not the best words for gamblers to hear but it got me thinking…
I think we’ve all heard this phrase but this phrase has been replaying in my head since this weekend in relation to taking an extra rest day (or two) this week… aka, Knowing when to fold them. Even though I still have quite a few weeks to go before the Marathon, I’ve been starting to feel a little bit run down these past few days. Normally, I would just force myself to keep going at the same pace until something breaks (aka backache, foot pain, sickness, etc) that I cannot ignore. But I want to change this because I want to be able to keep training for races but also get smart enough to listen to my body when it says “REST!” instead of push myself until I regret it.
I am a very Type A person and therefore it is very hard for me to deviate from a plan or change up my routine. I don’t want to be like this the rest of my life so I need to start making little changes now that will hopefully, eventually, turn into the norm for me. So yesterday after making myself go out and run my 3 miles, I decided that was the last forced workout this week. I am skipping Body Pump tonight which I don’t think I have done for no reason since I joined my gym almost two years ago, just because I need a break. I am also going to play it by ear on running tomorrow and see what I feel like at that point. Mentally I am struggling with this concept but yet I know it is really what I need right now.
As much as I know training is a process and a journey, I think part of that is also really knowing when to say “No” to something on your training plan and taking it easy for a few days. In the grand scheme of things, a missed run or weight session here or there is not going to ruin anything but a stressed out, over trained runner could. Hopefully this Unplanned but still kind of Planned Rest day is what I need to get back at it. Just a week or so ago, I was so excited for every workout so clearly something has changed and I am taking that as a sign. And sitting on my butt tonight and doing nothing. Well… maybe I will watch the Joey Lawrence movie again… you know, since I’m resting and all
Happy RestTuesday, Everyone!
