Time to Commit

I know training for any fitness goal takes commitment. Not only do I need to decide how much time I am willing to allot each week for my workouts, but how much time away from my family and mate I am willing to give up, how much money I am willing to spend on new gear or clothing, and how many other important responsibilities I can safely set aside to create space for a specific training schedule. Up to now, I have failed to truly commit to one of the most important aspects of training: Rest.

It's easy for me to push hard through a swim, bike, or run workout. I can 'dig deep' and get the last mile or several hundred yards in, but I usually crash and burn after. It's a cycle of training that I fell into as a novice triathlete getting ready for Hawk Island last month. I'd get burned out, have to take several days off because I literally could not move my body, and then jump right back into my training schedule full-bore until I crashed hard again. I'm trying to change that, and I'm reading a book that has an entirely new philosophy (to me, anyway) about training, working hard, and getting the rest your body needs. 

Many of us who race, be it a 5K or marathon, a bike tour, or any competitive activity, have an easier time pushing ourselves than we do sitting around on the couch all day. I know I feel lazy when I do, and I worry about losing fitnes gains I've made in the past, so sitting still is tough for me. But fully committing to my fitness goals includes all aspects of training, including serious rest days. Yeah, serious- as in sitting around and  seriously relaxing. It's a lot tougher than I thought- but I'm working to commit to resting just as wholly as I am to my planned workouts. With this new approach, I aim to bring my fitness goals into full realization.