Trying to find my rhythm

Oh my god, today I am wrecked.

I guess my last post when I mentioned me getting better with getting in my rest days was bullshit.  I'm still learning to listen to my body when it comes to running.  Should be common sense, at least one would think!

Ran 7 on Saturday and took Sunday off with a short walk around the block with my poochie, hubs, and bro-in-law during half-time of the Pats game.  Went almost 5 Monday, 4 Tuesday, and yesterday when I got home I was already super tired, but I set out for a short 3 miles. 

Stupid idea.  Not only was I ridiculously tired, it was : 1) Hotter then it had been the past couple weeks (which hadn't been a huge deal this summer--but since it's been 80s--It's been more manageable then 95-100s) 2) Ate a pretty big apple on the way home (I can't eat directly before I run--I just get too sluggish no matter what it is) 3) Slugged too much water before heading out (bloated stomach, water splashing around--just blech) and 4) I decided to take one of the hilliest routes I know.  

What the fuck was I thinking?

It started off okay, but right after the first big hill, I almost threw in the towel and walked back.  I didn't--but I sure as shit wanted to.  Glad I didn't, but still...it sucked. Fatigue, nausea, blech.  I could not get my heart rate to come back down.  Wall= hit head on.

Came home flung my sneakers off, faux stretched and fell over on my couch.  After all this running and work being a complete pain in my ass lately--I got to that point where you are so tired--you can't sleep.  Been there?  What a bucket of yuck.

I keep trying to remind myself to chill out today, go home-take a bath, relax--but I want to keep my rest days down to two/week, and I was planning on tomorrow being a rest day before my 8 on Saturday (gulp.)

I actually just sat down with one of the docs I work with here in the office (which he and his wife are crazy fitness buffs--he did the Iron-Man stuff in Hawaii--he's crazy--and she did the Boston Marathon earlier this year!) and he suggested that I do something like HIIT (high intensity interval training) for 2 miles today--2 min slow jogs with 1 min sprinting.  So that sounds like a plan to me.  Two miles is cake nowadays--something I never thought I'd say.  Also, he totally agrees that low-fat chocolate milk is easily one of the best recovery drinks for you--making sure you get that down within 30 minutes of finishing an intense workout. 

That's something I have no issue with...chocolate milk...*drool*  I actually add a little extra 1/3 scoop of my chocolate protein powder for after my longer runs. 

There is actual science behind the whole 'chocolate-milk-for-recovery' movement--I will definitely cover that soon, because I've answered this question for a few people recently.

Anyways, back to the original thought here--What kinds of training do you guys do to stay in a good rhythm?  More rest days?  Different surface training?  What have you found works/no way in hell works for you in ALL aspects of working out--not just running.




Go Fork Yourselves.


Krissy