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Friday and Saturday are always my babysitting days. I nanny all day (7:30 – 5:00) and while it is a pretty awesome job until just recently I end up spending most of the day stuck inside.
Finally, yesterday the little guy’s mom left me her jogging stroller so that we could go out and enjoy the beautiful 70 degree weather we have been having!
I wish I could have taken it out for a jog, but my schedule called for a rest day so we stuck to walking.
I was really excited that it was warm enough for shorts again. The days of wearing 3 layers just to go and take the dog out are hopefully behind us!
As you can see the perks of taking care of a 5 month old is I pretty much get to wear running or comfortable clothes all day. It takes all of 2 minutes to get ready for work. I am actually a bit sad though. This is the last full weekend of caring for this little guy. I help them out part of the day next Friday and then his father finishes up school so he will take over. I’m gonna miss him!
I am slowly learning that rest days are just as important as my workouts. My legs thank me every week after Friday. This may seem obvious to some but I have not always been one to take rest days. In fact, I never used to take them.
Maybe I’m becoming wiser with age? HA!
Sometimes rest doesn’t mean that you have to sit all day and do nothing. There are days where that is what I want to do and then there are days where I prefer “active rest.”
Here are a few ideas of things to do on your rest day:
Walk
Walking can be so therapeutic and is great to help walk off some of that lactic acid build up in your legs. Go out with friends, your dog, your spouse and just enjoy the day. There is no pressure which makes it relaxing and will make you feel better!
Core
I have been on the look out for a 20-30 minute core routine that I can do on my rest days. I have tried out a few different ones but am still searching. Even on your rest days focusing on even 10-15 minutes of core work is always a good idea. A stronger core means a stronger runner!
Yoga
I wish so badly I could get back into yoga. I used to do it specifically to focus on stretching, but honestly I am not a big fan of the yoga teacher at our gym and I have been putting off finding a new one. Hopefully once we move I will have better luck and can get back into it. Yoga is great to release stress and to work on your flexibility! Another key component to staying healthy.
Strength Training
If you don’t do a lot of strength training your rest day from running might be a great time to get it in. I do 2-3 days throughout the week so I don’t normally hit the weights on rest days, but there are many perks to it! Often when you weight train and run during the week it can leave you pretty tired. Strength training on your day off can allow you to have more energy.
I wouldn’t suggest going all out on a rest day, but it won’t hurt to focus on some lower body or upper body muscle groups.
Sleep
Sleep? What is that?! Amazingly enough sleep can really help for your body to repair itself. Instead of getting up at the crack of dawn for your morning run let yourself sleep in and let your body recover. You will be amazed what it can do!
Stretch
Stretch and foam roll on rest days. Even if you are feeling better you still want to keep your muscles loose. Try 15-20 minutes of stretching in the morning and again before bed even on your rest day. I think this really helps me in the long run.
Rest
What? Yep! If you are really worn out and don’t feel like doing anything – then don’t! I usually like to play rest days by ear and see how I feel or what my schedule allows. Don’t feel like you have to do something, if you take an entire day and just relax then that is just as good for your body as anything else!
Do you prefer full on rest days or active rest days?.
I too have learned the hard way the importance of rest! I think when you are new to running/racing it’s easy to get caught up in trying to do more and more each day/week but without rest it ultimately leads to burnout and injury. I usually just completely rest now on my rest days, I’ve found that strength and core work don’t allow me to fully recover and since they are not my strong points to begin with, they wipe me out.
Very true Michele! Even though I know many people that do strength train on rest days I choose complete rest, walking or only core work. I know that I can push myself too hard when it comes to strength training.
Don’t you love jobs where you can be so casual with the dress? I work from home 3 days per week and my “uniform” is yoga clothes. I still feel put together but don’t have to invest too much time!
Great post. My REST days = REST. Totally, 100%. Normally this is one day per week. Depending on things, it could be more. But I also don’t run everyday. 2 days per week are swim + weights and 1 day is cycling. I consider my swim + weights days somewhat of recovery days because there is something about being in the water for an hour that heals my body! Enjoy your weekend, Sara!
It’s the best! I am really going to miss it when I get back into the corporate world!
I love how you have such a great variety of workouts. I really should get back into swimming. I did it while I was injured and got so much better at it. I always told myself I would keep it up…oops!
Have a great weekend as well Susan!
When I was your age, I just ran, too! I loved it and did about 6 miles 4 x per week. Throughout my life and with all my injuries, the cross training has become very important. Now, at 42, I feel like if I still want running in my life, I really need to balance out with cycling and swimming (+ body pump dvd at home 2x per week and one yin yoga class). It really is working at keeping me healthy (which = happy). And a few 5 mile runs (with some walking) per week feels like “just enough” to scratch the running itch!!
I like active rest days but I have learned to make sure once in a while I take a complete rest day where I do nothing. I realized when I was doing yoga on my rest day (even though it was easy) I really wasn’t giving my body a chance to fully rest and recover. I try to take a day every 2-3 weeks where I just completely rest!
Yep I agree Lisa! 90% of the time I take complete rest days. It is just what makes me feel better, but every now and again I like to do a little something. Walking is probably my favorite “active rest day” activity!
my rest days are half half. Half laying in bed and half stretching and hydrating haha
Haha those sound like great rest days!
I prefer doing some light activity on rest days. I hate lying around in bed all day and I get restless!
Yes I could lay in bed all day either! 🙂 I am usually always finding something to do!
I’m a big fan of heading out for a gentle walk on rest days. I try and do core work although that seems to have fallen by the wayside just lately. Must fit a session in tomorrow!
Yes core is so easy to slack off on. Trust me, I get the same way sometimes!
Lightly rest days once a week. I cannot get out of my 8 mile bike commute and hour dog walk. I save the yoga/core seshs for double workout days.
Love the shoes!
Thats so awesome that you can ride your bike to work! I hope to be able to do that one day 🙂
I am terrible about rest days! I try and take one every week but I get antsy. I like the extra sleep though!
Yes I used to be terrible about them to. Sometimes I have to force myself.
I always choose active rest days. I always feel like crap on days I don’t do anything. That whole object in motion will stay in motion philosophy I guess. Even yesterday was my rest day and I took in 15 minutes of yoga and a 2 mile walk. Just keep moving especially when it’s beautiful out!
Sounds like a great rest day! Sometimes walking is so relaxing to me. Especially with my puppy!