First day of SCHEDULED training and the importance of taking an off season.

I began my first scheduled training of the year with my awesome  Coach Siri Lindley today. I started running in the dark and did a great fartlek run. I feel so charged up for the upcoming season as well as rested from my off season break. My goals are clearer than ever and my motivation is off the charts. Running feels new again. All this is due to taking an important but often overlooked off season break.
The importance of the off season is huge. It will allow your body to physically recover from the 10 months or so of hard training you put on it. Those long runs wear you down more than you might think. Perhaps, even more importantly are the mental effects it has on a person. The off season is your time to become human again. I know I did. Go out with friends and family drink beer or whatever else you like to do. Stay up late and sleep in. Eat a pint of ice cream if you choose. Its letting go and letting the body get its cravings it wants for a little while that will allow you to push forward in the next season. It takes courage to take time off, but I promise you that it will be better in the long run. The trick is to still make healthy lifestyle choices.

My off season break was incredible, I went up to the mountains and downhill skied everyday for two weeks, along with staying up late and eating lots of food. I put almost 5 lbs on.  I still did core work and occasionally cross country skied. My first days warming up into training, I felt out of shape but was invigorated with training again. I made healthy choices that were going to help me in the long run. I encourage you to make sure you take an off season of at least 10 days next year.
Happy new year to everyone, and lets go out their and swim, bike , and run as though its the best thing in the world, because it is...