What I Learned on Day 9 of "10 Days of Rest"

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My 9th Day of Rest was also National Running Day.  Another concocted holiday to sell merchandise.  I watched from the sidelines and counted all the shoes I still haven’t worn.

That’s not to say I don’t love National Running Day.  Honestly, I once dubbed running “King,” but I’ve already “cheated” my resting twice, once with biking and once with swimming.  And one of the major reasons I decided to pursue this rest period was nagging pain that revolves around running.

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Photo: Carolyn Petredis Wasky

So, I dressed for work and did stretches by stepping up on my bathroom sink and standing there in a tie for 90 seconds for each leg.  That’s when it occurred to me that, “Hey, I don’t have to stop this stretching and strengthening thing after I start training again.”

Hmm, simple, borderline dumb observation, right?  Sure, but it takes the same, if not more, of a commitment.  A commitment to warming up slowly, then taking time to cool down and actually stretch after the workout.

Everything I can find on stretching says do it after the workout, so I have to make time, which can be a little tricky after a four hour bike ride.

“Yeah, you guys go ahead, I’m gonna sit over here on my foam roller for 20 minutes.”

Seriously, though, pre-workout leg warm ups and post-workout rolling/stretching.  It’s not so much learned as “re-learned.”

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Day 10 is upon me now and I’m already thinking tomorrow will include the pool.  Saturday is bike and Sunday is run.