Resting our bodies is an important part of training.

This past week was a recovery week according to the marathon training plan I am using (post here).

It calls for reduced mileage and an extra day of rest.

I have mixed feelings about it because I feel I run my best (especially mentally) when I am in the habit of running regularly.

Why We Need to Rest

Recovery weeks are good to have, though, since the body goes through some beating up when you are upping your mileage and running for longer periods of time.

The muscles need time to repair, just like in strength training.

In order for your body to be able to get to its former level of fitness before a run and then surpass it, the muscles need time to rest and repair.

It can be hard for runners to accept that resting is part of training. We like to think that hard effort runs most of the time is the way to get better.

While that has its place, resting is HUGE in getting the body to respond to the training and gain speed and endurance.

Resting is still working, and every rest and every type of training run you do contributes to you getting stronger as a runner.

There are several workouts you need as a runner to get better, and when you can incorporate those along with rest you WILL see an improvement over time.

A rest week not only helps you recover from the previous load of training, but it also helps your body get ready for the next stage of pounding the pavement or treadmill.

We’ve all heard and/or experienced the pain of over-training (stress fracture, anyone?) so a recovery week is also important to stave off any impending injuries.

During a rest, you can assess what may be hurting and utilize some remedies longer term to see if that gets you over any blips.

Running Buffalo

My first run this week was back in freezing Buffalo after spending the week in Antigua.

Definitely an adjustment.

It was nice to be running with the hubs again, and we ran around the Erie Basin Marina and caught some of the sunset.

It can be a struggle to start out on a cold run, but after about a mile the cool air on my face actually feels good.

I had no issue with sweat pouring in my eyes like in Antigua, either!!

A few days later we tried to run a “rails to trails” path, but it is not maintained in the winter so that was a bust. We ran to Delaware Park

instead, near the Buffalo Zoo that has a large outer ring.

I had strength trained using weights on leg exercises the day before and I felt it!

We also ran through Forest Lawn Cemetery that day. It is very large with winding roads.

President Millard Fillmore is buried here, as well as Red Jacket.

It is a beautiful place! Biking, running and reading a book beneath a tree are all encouraged.

It still seems kind of weird to me to run through it, but we meet many people strolling or running.

My last run of rest week was 4 miles the day before jumping back into marathon training mileage.

It was a quick tempo run near our condo with Dave around the Marina again.

Even though I feel more accomplished when I do a “regular” training week as opposed to a rest week, I know that it is important to get those muscles repaired.

Especially as an older runner, my body needs that time so that I can continue to train without injury.

Do you look forward to resting? What do you do on your “off” days?