Rest days are the best days

We're nearing the end of January, which typically means that it's time to start half marathon training again.  (Someday I hope to drop the "half" in front of the word marathon...maybe next year!)  I, however, to provide myself with motivation to keep running after the Boston Half Marathon, signed up for the Hyannis Half Marathon.

The nice thing about running a couple of half marathons is that at some point you become fairly conditioned to running longer distances.  Even if you take a couple weeks off, it doesn't take much to get back into the swing of things.  My long runs are a minimum of 7 miles now (and yes, I know that's a cakewalk for all you hardcore runners out there!), and I'm working my way up to a 9 or 10 mile minimum.  Soon.

I also started doing Jillian Michaels's 30 Day Shred video, which is not bad.  We have no room for anything exercise-related except hand weights, so the video is a good way to get strength training in with minimal equipment.  It's a "20 minute" workout (really takes 27 minutes and change), but it's not too bad.  I typically can't stick with exercise videos, but this one's pretty bearable.  I've done it for about 10 days now, and it seems to be working.

My workout schedule looks like this:

• Monday: Regular, easy run (3.5 miles) + 30 Day Shred
• Tuesday: 30 Day Shred + Ballet class
• Wednesday: Hills (4.5 miles) + 30 Day Shred
• Thursday: Fast run (3.5 miles) + 30 Day Shred
• Friday: Intervals run (3.5 miles) + 30 Day Shred
• Saturday: Rest
• Sunday: Long Run (varies per week, 7 miles minimum)

My training schedule centers around the long run, so I might change days based on when that is.  Today I'm taking a full on rest day because tomorrow is the long run, and Sunday will be a short day, and then Monday will probably be intervals.  Tuesday is always a non-running day (just the way it has worked out), so that's nice, but I am starting ballet classes next week so I'm excited to still get out and get some exercise on Tuesdays.

But today is a true rest day, and that is the best day of the week!  Everyone needs a day just to be lazy and relax sometimes. :)