Diary of a week off running
The agony of off-season
I just took a week off running. I thought it would be fun to write about it.
For weeks I have felt below where I feel I should be, and my energy levels constantly too low. I have felt off in track sessions ever since, feeling that something is missing, like when the energy bar in a computer game is at 60-70%.
Day 0 - Recognition - It’s time for a break
Do an easy run with 6 x 30 second hill sprints. I cannot get to the top of the hill once. My muscles revolt.
This is the moment I recognise the need for an off-season break. I came back too quick from the Berlin Marathon, racing a 10k two weeks later and then getting back to training almost immediately.
Day 1 - If Kipchoge can do it, I can.
I read up on the need to take annual breaks. Reading about how quickly you lose fitness when not training discourages me, but the idea of “supercompensation” encourages me. Also, I remind myself that Eliud Kipchoge takes a whole month off after his marathons. If he can step away, surely I can!
However, I also desperately want to start building up training again, so having to step back and start from scratch again is depressing.
I don’t even have the motivation to do the usual runner fallback in these situations: shoe-shopping.
Day 2 - Frustration
It’s getting hard. To come to terms with it, I fill out the next week of my calendar: rest - rest - rest - rest - rest - bouldering - bike ride - easy run. Seeing it planned out helps with acceptance.
I try hard not to think about when the next race is.
Day 3 - endorphins
Go for a leisurely bike ride with the wife, who is overwhelmed by having me around so much at the weekend. First endorphins in two days. What a rush!
Day 4 - Is this working?
Why are my legs still sore after several days of rest?
Am I ever going to feel fresh and strong again?
How long do I need to actually take off to be fully recovered?
My fear now is coming back too early, then crashing again and needing yet another break.
Day 5 - Work is the new training
I am filling the free space left by not running by working harder.
It is actually quite hard to really rest: to sit still, to read, to sleep extra, to not exert yourself in other ways. Turns out we live in a society full of distractions and anxiety-generating stuff - who knew?!
Day 6 - SAD
Several days of no sunlight and no running is taking its toll.
I start checking last-minute flight deals.
In future, I must try to make these off days align with a beach holiay.
Day 7 - One more day
Was going to go to the boulder gym today, but instead work and veg out a little. Is this how rest is meant to feel (ie sluggish AF)?
Day 8 - Movement
Go for a long bike ride on my barely-used gravel bike. Feel good and sad at the same time.
Happily, it’s the first sunny day in weeks. Vitamin D AND endorphins!
I remember the childhood joy of riding hard and coming home so exhausted and legs so wrecked that all you could do is collapse on the couch. I don’t do that today. But yearn for a really hard track session.
Day 9 - Run!
Easy 5km run around the park. The first 2km feel terrible. I feel an irrational fear that I will never feel energetic, fresh and strong again. It passes.
Day 10 - Run again!
An easy 8km around two parks. I feel tempted to push it. But I don’t.
The moral of the story. Running is wonderful. Try to treasure every minute of it.