Mondays are my standard day off of running and any other physical activity, also known as my rest day. After 6 days of running, and typically the day after a long run, my body is very thankful to have a day off.
Many runners seem to have problems taking rest days and even dread them! As much as I love to run I have to admit, I *gasp* actually look forward to my rest day. I think I look forward to the break mentally as much as I do physically and I just like to do nothing sometimes.
I love getting to be lazy if I want, getting to sleep in before work, getting to catch up on things around the house after work, and pretty much do whatever I want without having to schedule my run in the middle of it all. I always look forward to getting back out there, but a full day off really helps to recharge my battery for the week of training.
I have thought about cross-training on these days, and have had some streaks where I would continue to exercise by cycling or weight training or something on that order, but these days, I truly rest on my rest days. I know I really need the day fully off and I take full advantage of it.
Do you rest from everything on your rest days or just rest from running?
I rest. I love rest days!
A rest day is not a rest day if you workout! I definitely take my rest days completely off. That’s right – I take two.
your pups are too cute! i LOVE my rest days, too!
oh my gosh those pumps are so adorable. Cooper lays like Kylie does! I had never seen that before, but I guess it is normal!
One full rest day from physical activity is so necessary. In fact, I usually take at least 1 full rest day and then 1 rest day from running, but do something else at the gym such as pilates or weights…
Haha Kylie LOVES to lay like that. Even on the bed with her head on the pillow
Love the pic of your pups. You run 6 out of 7 days? I take a rest day from all exercise. I love vegging out my my kids and watching a movie.
Yep I run 6 days… typically 3 easy, 1 track, 1 tempo or ML and one long.
I love rest days too! I know my legs enjoy the time off and plus it gives me a day to do whatever I want!
I am with you – I LOVE rest days! My body looks forward to them. And like you said, it’s also a good mental break. It’s nice to have a day where I don’t have to worry about exercising. That’s one of the reasons why I really love doing my long runs on Sundays, because it means I have one day during the week where I don’t have to plan a run around work. Plus, I find the better I am about really resting on the off days, the better I feel during my week of training. Which is good incentive for me to be lazy once a week.
I have always loved my rest days! Sometimes I will cross train, but I have usually found that I do better overall when I have one day per week with nothing on the schedule. More than anything, I like that it gives me a chance to catch up on things that are otherwise neglected. Like TV! haha
I’m terrible at resting. I wish I was better, but I simply can’t do it and not feel riddled with guilt. I did manage to at least do lighter leg weights yesterday (Monday is a non-running day, but I always do leg weights so I don’t think I get all that much “rest”) which was a step in the right direction. Right?
Hmmm. Days completely off are a good idea. Someday I will act on this advice.
Maybe.
The deeper into marathon training I get the more excited I get for my rest days!
I’m with you on the rest days – I relish every opportunity to be lazy and just get caught up on my life!
I’m totally an active recovery rest day kind of girl unless my body really needs a full day off or I’m sick. I like to swim or do an easy spin on my easy days.
I hate rest days so much! It’s so great that you honor them though. Probably why you don’t get injured very often!
My rest days are always on days that I work since I can’t get in an eight mile run after a 12 hour shift! Soooo it’s never really a rest day since I’m on my feet for 12 hours, but at least I’m not running?
Unless something comes up, I never take a day off. I do double workouts 4 days/week, and 3 days I do easy short workouts. An easy swim helps my body recovery quicker than complete rest. Everyone is different.
I rest from everything! I need to mentally and physically recharge.
well… i’ve kinda just been taking a rest day whenever i feel like it, so i feel guilty for mine. i also tend to take more than one…
back in the day when i stuck to my training schedule i definitely looked forward to rest days!
Definitely rest! At least when I was training, rest days were really important for recovery. I think the cross training/lifting is great when you are between training but not when you’re really working hard the other six days. Love the puppy pics
I love the cuddling with the puppies pictures
Definitely enjoy your rest day! They are so important in order to avoid injury!
I love rest days. They are so necessary to let your body absorb the training and to keep your mind fresh for the next 6 days of workouts. I don’t take total rest days that often, actually: maybe not often enough! usually on a “rest day” I’ll do some weights or yoga but rarely just veg out. Maybe once every two weeks I’ll take a day off from all forms of exercise.
Smart girl actually RESTING on your rest days. My hero Hal Hidgon is always tweeting about the benefits of your rest day. You are right – your body NEEDS a day of total recovery. So in honor of you, I’m doing something unusual and actually RESTING today. No yoga, no weights, no running. Just lots of sofa time!
)
Thanks for the reminder!
The most I’ve trained for something is 5 days a week, I don’t think I can handle much more than that…Maybe I could do 6 days a week, but I definitely couldn’t do 7 days. I just need a mental/physical break from running every now and then. For my next marathon I’m going to be following the Pfitzinger 18/55 plan, which I think has me running 5 days a week…
i love rest days! with this marathon schedule i’ve been running 5 days a week, then cross training on the bike/elliptical + weight lifting on the 6th & total rest (maybe an easy walk w/ my husband) on the 7th. i don’t feel guilty about it because i know i work hard the other days and without rest you can’t keep working hard! i even rest when i’m not really training for anything
I used to have such a problem with rest days; I would always try to do something, even if it was just yoga. But like you mentioned, mental fatigue takes it toll and wears you down. These days I rest completely and I love it.
i don’t schedule rest days and try to do some sort of workout every day. but…if my body feels i need a break, i’ll take a day off. last month i took 2!!