What I learned with my rest time

Cross train on the schedule today - I did my typical weights workout plus added some strength exercises that are in Hanson's Marathon method book.

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For those of you that follow, you know my plan was to take off some time at the end of the year.  I originally started with the plan to take off seven days but ended up being ten days of no running.  I only did two weights workouts as well.

Here's what I learned:

• Everyone needs to take a break every now and then.  From now on I will do this on an annual basis usually near the end of the season(November/December)  It helps rejuvenate me into enjoying running again.  What a surprise - not.

• Not running does not necessarily fix things.  I'm not sure that not running helped things that much.  Time will tell if it did or not.  I do know that it did NOT hurt taking off this time.  I plan to get a sports massage in the near future and see if that helps as well.  I've always been a believer that stretching and self massage has helped me overall.

• You don't lose that much fitness - I have to say that from yesterday's 3 miler(I know, it's not that long) that I learned taking off 10 days, you don't lose that much fitness.  It's not like I was huffing and puffing.  Many experts feel there a significant reduction(3-7%) but let's be real here - I'm not an elite so 7% is not THAT material to me.  On a half marathon, that reduces my time from 1:40 to 1:47. Significant? I guess but nothing for me to lose sleep over. 

• I'm happy to not be running a full this year - the half still remains my favorite distance - I would actually love to run a full this year. Confused yet?  In my mind, I want to run a full but I know that I cannot handle it right now so I'm getting back to basics.  Enjoying the run.  I've thrown my time goals out the window this year.  Could I push it sure, but why?  I also want to get back into running the trails when the snow clears or maybe when they are not clear.  Snowshoeing anyone?

• Weights workouts - I need to do more of this.  All things lead to a strong core.  I need to workout more with weights and will shoot for at least twice a week this year.  It's a difficult thing for me to do consistently but I know it will make me a better and stronger runner.

Let's get to know each other again.

• Enjoy the run - if it's not fun, why do it?  Enough said.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!