Rest to Improve

Whether training for your first marathon or even your first 5k, there is something crucial that is often neglected by women with a lot of ambition—rest.

An article featured in the Washington Running Report says this rationale is typical of the overzealous, "when common sense often takes a back seat to a well intended work ethic."

The article, written by Alisa Harvey, USA Track & Field's 2007 Masters Athlete of the Year, warns that when rest is neglected, training suffers.  Adequate rest and nutrition throughout any training process is the best way to ensure not only performance, but overall good health.

Harvey stresses listening to your body, and responding to both emotional and physical cues that you need more rest.  For example, you may experience a heavy burning feeling in your legs while running, which occurs when you haven't rested enough between runs.

Harvey's advice may be hard for the enthusiastic runner or overachiever to follow, but it does make sense. You may think you're doing yourself a favor by running farther or longer or more often than your race training plan suggests, but if your performance is sacrificed, you're really only hindering yourself. You need at least one complete day of rest each week.
 
—Amanda Smith