Hiatus Over - Time To Bring It!

Rest is a necessary part of fitness. Without it, injuries are more likely and so is the dreaded burn out. Personally, I know that I'm close to the onset of burn out when all running miles ahead of me feel pointless or when the thought of hours at the gym seems more a chore than a joy. This mindset is completely counterproductive and it generally signals that I need a break.

So, every three or four months, I generally take about a week or two off from my strict schedule. I eat more freely and I leave my running shoes in the closet. And between day 5 and day 9...I start to feel antsy. And bloated. And generally useless. This, by the way, is a good thing because there is nothing I hate worse than feeling antsy, bloated and useless (it's a gross feeling, isn't it?) so I come back from my hiatus energized and ready for action.

And that's exactly where I am right now. In control and motivated. And that, my friends, is a wonderful feeling. So, here's the game plan - for the next week, I'm stripping all processed foods. Nothing resets your system quite like clean eating. For me, clean eating is whole foods - uncooked fruits, steamed and raw vegetables, hard boiled eggs, salmon seasoned with lemon juice, grilled shrimp, etc. I remove all excess sugar and salt and really load up on water and tea. By day three, I'll feel like my insides took a shower.

As far as workouts go, I can't wait to hit the gym and the track. Remember, you have to always keep your workouts fresh to keep burn out at bay. With regard to running, I really want to work on my speed so for the next couple of months, I'll drop my mileage and pick up the pace. I'm really looking forward to intervals at the track and fast 3-4 milers on the hills. I need to jump start my muscles that spent long hours on the treadmill this winter.

Now that the weather is warming up, I can take my bike off of the trainer and get her back on the pavement. I cannot wait to feel the wind whipping by me as I test out this mountain terrain. It's my first spring up here and I fully intend to take advantage of the glorious weather.

Finally, it's time for a pool reunion. I haven't been in the water in about 9 months and while my muscles will protest for the first couple of weeks, I am eagerly awaiting the smell of chlorine on my skin and the feel of the sun on my back. Yup, it's time to "spring" back into action. Rest feels good, but moving feels even better.