What crosses your mind when you look at your training for today and see these three words: A Day Off?
Today is a day off for me. So the first thing I thought is I have a little more time to relax over my cup of coffee. Ginger and Thor will by psyched because I will sit a little more today. Maybe. Depends. Because for me, and I’m sure for many of you as well, a day off just means no running. The rest of my life is still there waiting for me: My kids (someone will need to bring in something for school), the house (I need to call the plumber), a walk for Thor and Ginger, work (coaching, writing, #restdaybrags social media post), oh crap the laundry. I do have a very helpful husband but he is either traveling or is heading to his office north of where we live.
Even with the call of everyday life, it still is a day off, and with most of the things I have in my day, I have control over what has to be done versus what can wait. I have control over what I give my energy to. How I react to what is going on around me. So over that extra time I have to relax over coffee I take 5 minutes to see what in my day can wait. Where can I make today a little easier for myself so I can get the most out of this recovery day.
I also hydrate (with NUUN), drink a green smoothie, eat foods that decrease inflammation. What foods decrease inflammation? Blueberries (I put frozen blueberries in my smoothies), ginger and turmeric (I drink a ginger/turmeric tea I can get at Trader Joe’s), red peppers, raw oats to name a few.
These are things I share with my athletes. Things my coach reminds me. After all rest is training too.
stress + rest = growth ~ Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness, Peak Performance
How do you spend your “day off”?