Off Day Struggles
After yesterday’s run, I figured I had two options for exercising today: either I could push through and punish myself for yesterday’s sub-par performance by getting up early and getting in a long swim or I could take the day off to give my muscles and joints a chance to recover and hope that by tomorrow I’ll be able to get back at it. I chose the latter option, in part because I think my body needed it, but also because I was up sort of late last night and struggled to get out of bed this morning. I think that taking the day off is the right move. Hopefully tomorrow morning when I get in the pool I’ll be refreshed and strong.
It’s a struggle for me to take planned days off. If I don’t work out in the morning, I generally spend the day feeling sluggish and tired and antsy and irritable. It helps me wake up and be attentive for the rest of the day. Also, with triathlon training trying to get in the runs, cycling, swims and strength training, it’s tough to get all those workouts in every week. But I know how valuable days off are, so I try to take a day off each week. This weekend we’re headed to LA for my sister’s 30th birthday, so I imagine I’ll take at least one day off this weekend as well. Psychologically it kills me, but physically I’m sure it’s for the best.