Breaks are for Sissies

Well, that’s the way I instinctively think anyway. I think we’re conditioned as humans, nay Americans, to always be on the go. Time unspent is time wasted. Time is money. We’re not getting any younger. I know it’s funny to hear a runner say this, but why are we always rushing everywhere to get everything done? Why does 24 hours in a day never seem like enough? Do we really get that much more done rushing? I don’t know about you, the reader, but I know when I rush I feel like I, consequently, get less done because of all the errors I make and I’m distracted by the other 5,000 thoughts going through my head at the same time. It seems more difficult to compartmentalize each individual task needing to be done along with the task at hand and then everything just becomes one big gumbo-like stew of everything…and it’s not a good stew. It’s like you just emptied the contents of the fridge and put it all on high.

It has been so hard for me, from a running perspective, to respectfully take a day off. Every training manual I’ve reviewed and perused through always has at least 1 or 2 days designated as “rest” or “off” days. Leave it to me, and most of the country, to think, “WHAT?!?! 7 days in a week and you want me to take a whole one off to ‘rest’? And what’s more, you suggest that more often than not I take 2 days off? Somebody needs to get their act and head together. What a waste.” I’m the same with stretching. I have to, literally, force myself to do a mere 2 minutes of stretches before and after running. Though I’ve read about the value of both stretching and resting I still fight it like a toddler when it’s time to sleep. If I weren’t going through my quarter life crisis I may, in fact, kick and scream when it came time to stretch and rest, but luckily it has come at the perfect time.

As I write this I am sitting on a friend’s couch at a 4th of July gathering with no real plan in mind. (I’m not being anti-social. They’re all at the pool and I was in a mad dash to make it to work on time today so I half forgot/half rushed too much and didn’t grab my suit. Please tell me you’re laughing at the irony of all this.) As excited as I am to have good food, good conversation and good social time with everyone, it is still difficult for me to sit and just be. I’ve got laundry that is crying to be done. I have dishes that are longing for the dishwasher. My vacuum cleaner is about to plug itself in so it can eat some unnecessary yuck off my carpet. Teacher workdays start in 2 weeks and I have not lifted a single finger nor updated and created version 2.0 of anything from last year. I didn’t run today because it was my “off” day. Ridiculous. Well, so my brain wants to think. I am combating these feelings of ridiculousness and lies that breaks are for sissies with truths of rest and what it really is. Rest is not laziness or a lack of motivation. Though “rest” really means, “a bodily state characterized by minimal function and metabolic activities”, “rest” also means “freedom from activity or labor; a peace of mind or spirit.” (Cheers, Merriam-Webster!) Anyone else catch that and cringe a little due to an inaccurate perception? I did. Guilty. Makes me remember those days in college where I didn’t read a multiple choice question all the way and picked an answer I thought was right because I jumped the gun. I thought I already knew it. Since rest, by definition, brings freedom and peace then it cannot possibly bring stress when viewed correctly. So resting isn’t the problem. The problem is the clouded vision I am using to view rest. Yes, 1-800-CONTACTS, I’d like a rush on those extra strength corrective lenses, please.

Going back to running, since this is my running blog, rest days are not completely optional. If I want to maintain strength, stamina and a love for running I must remind myself of the freedom I find in the goal and the peace I need to reach it. This all brought by something as simple as rest. I promise this wasn’t planned in lieu of the 4th…when I say everything is honest and raw I really mean it. I sat down on the couch about 30 minutes ago and started writing this. Now I feel like its time for a nap. Or a Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll. There’s nothing more American. ☺

Today’s Stats: Crazy, rushed, non-stop American lifestyle, .5 (I did forget my suit as a result!). Being enlightened/reminded to what rest really is and it’s necessity in life, 1. Nap time, watch the blog for end result and highlights.