Give It a Rest (Blog Post #100!)
It’s no secret that as we age it takes longer to recover from races and intense workouts. While the science clearly tells us that, the proof is in the pudding — we feel it! There is a fine line, sometimes a very fine line, between pushing it and giving ourselves a breather, to take the foot off the pedal for a few days or longer. Doesn’t mean we’re comatose. In fact, it’s good to do something aerobic everyday. It’s a good habit to have. And something to look forward to and plan the day around. Two weeks ago I ran a half marathon. I was somewhat undertrained – averaging only 25 miles a week with just one 12-mile run and a couple of 10s in the prior three months. But I thought I could maintain a pretty steady pace and maybe pick it up at the end. I made some dumb mistakes: overdressed, didn’t take nutrition on the course, and wore new shoes. Anyhow, at 11 miles I bonked – a strange feeling I hadn’t had in years. Simply no energy or drive. Flat out dead in my tracks! I might have stopped, but the only way back was to the finish area. So, I walked, then jogged, walked some more, etc., only picking it up … Continue reading