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Rest for your souls...I’m still here; still running. I wanted to share yet another fascinating thing I’ve learned about the sport. This sort of endurance is hard on your body. Especially when it’s new to your body and you’re not conditioned for it. It was mapped out early in the training that you needed to take a minimum of 2 rest days per week. REST? Ok, I thought…that was nice of them to throw us a bone. What I found was this. I could do a really challenging run, like 5 miles on hilly terrain; a real workout for me at this point in the training. Then I take the next day off. That day didn’t amount to much that I could tell. But I began to notice that my body was still at work during those REST days. The day after the REST day I was tighter overall. I felt better, stronger, more aggressive about it. And I couldn’t wait to do it again! You see, on those REST days my body is regenerating itself for the next run; in a constant state of repair. Rest is imperative to reset your mechanism. As in life, we need to find time to re-coup ourselves. Going 100 mph, 24-7 does NOT sound appealing to me. Busy does not equal progress. Mind you, I stay pretty darn busy most of the time. Just flip through my planner and you’ll see. But I make time for things that energize me and fuel my spirit….my morning quiet time, bible study, walking my dogs, choir, taking a long weekend nap, reading...even exercise is therapeutic to me. And when things get too busy to fit these things in, I regroup. Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Let me tell you friends, success can be great…but not at the expense of missing out on the blessings that the simple things in life offer. I'll refresh tired bodies; I'll restore tired souls. Jeremiah 31:25 Stop. Breathe. Pray. Meditate. Love. Laugh. Find peace. Refuel. Recharge. REST once in a while! You’ll be glad you did. |
