Most of the training plans I’ve done have at least one rest day and often a day that can be rest or cross training. In the past, rest day meant I did nothing to intentionally get my heart pumping. I might walk to the kids’ school or kick a soccer ball around the yard with them or go up and down my stairs a billion times doing laundry, but if that didn’t happen, I didn’t care.
Since I started the 30by60 challenge, I’ve had exactly one day where I didn’t take 30 minutes and purposefully get my heart beating. On that day I went for an easy one mile each way walk to the bookstore and back. So, even then, I moved a bit more than my standard normal movement day.
I was a little worried at the start that my body would not handle this challenge well. I was wrong. I’ve found that as long as I throw in days where the workout is less intense, my body seems to actually recover better.
This morning I woke up sore and a bit stiff after yesterday’s hilly 9 miles. My hips just ached from the workout. I hit the local gym for an easy 30 minutes on the elliptical. And you know what? My legs are still tired, but I feel much looser and the ache in my hips is gone. Hmmm….
So, what’s a rest day for you? Is it a lighter workout or no workout at all?