Surprise Rest Day

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Today… was one of those days.  You know, one of those days that I did NOT want to go running.  So I didn’t.   

 

When I feel like skipping a run, I factor in several things:  1) Am I training for a race?… 2) Is this a very important training run (like a long one or a speedwork session)?… 3) Will I feel better after this workout or worse?  I’m a firm believer that exercise should energize you!  Otherwise, why are we doing it?  Workouts should be FUN.  I didn’t feel like it would be very much fun today, so I skipped my three miler.  And it felt awesome.  🙂

 

Being stuck in the car for 4 hours was probably a contributing factor to my laziness…

 

Pre-drive lunch of hummus sammie, fruit, and veg:

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Topped my hummus with these bean sprouts that were literally little beans!  So cute.

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+ a tomato, cucumbers, cheese slice, and apple

 

I drove and drove, and I listened to Don Henley:

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1) New York Minute is the best song, ever.

 

2) Why is Don smoking a cigarette?  He doesn’t even look like he knows how to hold it correctly.

 

Sing-along snack of cashews:

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And a pre-run snack when I still thought I was going on a run:

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Dinner was courtesy of the Husband.  He made lovely stir-fry of kidney beans, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, leeks, pepper, garlic, and ginger on a bed of brown rice.

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With tomato sauce mixed in with the rice.

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Mmm!  And a big blondie brownie for dessert.   But I ate it too fast to photograph.  🙂

 

Another week begins!

{ 47 comments }

 

  • Jen October 24, 2010, 7:29 pm

    Good call skipping the run. You’ll be running plenty come Saturday 🙂

  • carlee October 24, 2010, 7:32 pm

    I totally agree. You should not run if its just gonna wear you out. Looks like you and your mom always have a fun day together!

    • carlee October 24, 2010, 7:33 pm

      I never thought of mixing tomato sauce in rice! thats smart.

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write October 24, 2010, 7:38 pm

    I think the same thing about every person I see smoking nowadays. Like, are you not aware? The warning on the pack should say, “If you smoke this, you.will.die.” End of story. (This from a former smoker.)

    I just wrote two articles about sprouting quinoa and sprouting buckwheat. Do you know it’s really easy to do at home? I never knew it. Plus, it’s really good for you. Learn something new every day.

    • Caitlin October 24, 2010, 7:57 pm

      Well, I understand why people smoke (addiction), but I don’t understand why they would put it on a CD cover!

  • Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews October 24, 2010, 8:00 pm

    Your toast always looks the best out of any toast lol. Where did you get those neat looking bean sprouts?

  • holly @ couchpotatoathlete October 24, 2010, 8:01 pm

    Maybe smoking a cig is the best way to capture “the end of the innocence”? I agree with you though, it just looks odd!

    Those cashews look so good — and I don’t even know if they are covered in sugar or salt — either sounds good!

  • Maria @ Oh Healthy Day October 24, 2010, 8:04 pm

    I have those days too. I try listening to my gut. If I’m unsure though, I’ll give myself ten minutes of running and by then, I know if it’s meant to be or not.

    Will your husband teach mine how to cook, please? 🙂

  • Angie (My Life in Bites) October 24, 2010, 8:05 pm

    I love how you view exercise and you’re so right – it shouldn’t be a chore but rather something we do FOR OURSELVES!

    Your husband is such a catch – I think it’s so great that he (1) cooks and (2) apparently cooks pretty gosh darn good!

    • Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat October 24, 2010, 8:08 pm

      Agreed! My boyfriend’s version of cooking is either ordering food in or heating up a microwave meal!

  • Whitney October 24, 2010, 8:06 pm

    Ever since they featured a Don Henley song on the episode of ER where Doug & Carol get back together, I’ve been obsessed with him. “Taking You Home” is my fave.

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine October 24, 2010, 8:08 pm

    I’ve definitely had those days- your body probably appreciated the rest!! Hope you have a great night!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey October 24, 2010, 8:09 pm

    I believe in skipping workouts if you’re just not feeling it!

  • Anna S. @ History Running Girl October 24, 2010, 8:13 pm

    Those ghosts are pretty adorable!

  • Clare October 24, 2010, 8:14 pm

    I’m sorry, but I heart that you rocked out to Don Henley. Now I have “this is the ennnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddd…of the inn-o-cence” in my head. thanks. it’s almost as good as phil collins pseudo, which I also appreciated.

  • Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun October 24, 2010, 8:15 pm

    I always factor in the same things when considering to skip a workout. The “will I feel worse or better” is a big one. Usually its the jumpstart I need since normally I know I will feel better. The days that doesn’t work I know I need the rest.

  • Wei-Wei October 24, 2010, 8:18 pm

    I don’t think he does not how to hold a cigarette. It just looks strange. Have you ever had any experience with smoking? (Just out of curiosity!)

    • Caitlin October 24, 2010, 8:23 pm

      I was an occasional social smoker in college!

  • Kaitlyn (College Girl Runs) October 24, 2010, 8:19 pm

    I totally agree with how you figure out if you want to rest or do the run. Your body will thank you for taking the rest day 🙂

  • mindy @ just a one girl revolution. October 24, 2010, 8:19 pm

    Good for you for listening to your body and taking a rest day – it can be tough to do so close to a race!

  • Kelly October 24, 2010, 8:31 pm

    How do you personally work your speed training? Right now I’m on my high school’s XC team and coach has us do some speed training, but I’m afraid once season is over I won’t have the motivation to do it. What keeps you motivated?

  • grocery goddess jen October 24, 2010, 8:42 pm

    Your dinner looks delicious. Glad you had a nice weekend!

  • Camille October 24, 2010, 8:42 pm

    That looks just like my go-to dinner of late 🙂 Delish!

  • Karen :0) October 24, 2010, 8:57 pm

    Everything you ate looks awesome!! :0) I agree about listening to your body! Hope you had a good rest day!

  • Jennifer Demartini October 24, 2010, 9:01 pm

    Sometimes rest days are a must! I know I’ll be taking one soon, I can feel myself getting sick:(

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss October 24, 2010, 9:02 pm

    Agreed- working out should never, ever be a chore. If you’re *really* not feeling a workout (instead of just being lazy) and force yourself to do so anyway, you’ll end up hating it. Good for you for listening to your mind 😛

  • Amanda (Eating Up) October 24, 2010, 9:04 pm

    Could you do a tutorial on how to make rice? I don’t know why, but it’s so hard to me! I hate making dishes that need rice (even though I love stir fry!)

  • Hope October 24, 2010, 9:14 pm

    good call listening to your body!
    Dinner looks fab! I never thought to put kidney beans in with a stir fry, must try this!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat October 24, 2010, 9:20 pm

    Good call on the skipping the run. You’re so lucky to have a husband that cooks such yummy meals! Where can I get one? 😉

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday October 24, 2010, 9:30 pm

    Did you sprout those beans yourself?

  • Emily October 24, 2010, 10:04 pm

    So good that you listened to your body…its sometimes can be really conflicting but it’s good that you know better 🙂 Welcome home!

  • Lissi @livelearnrun October 24, 2010, 10:26 pm

    I love Don Henley! And of course, the Eagles. The title song of that album is so amazing :). I agree with you, if you are not going to enjoy your workout (and it’s not terribly important to a training plan), then we should definitely feel free to skip! And even sometimes if it is an important one, things can be rearranged to fit it in when you feel more inclined :).

  • stacey October 24, 2010, 11:33 pm

    Mmmmmm…loving how colorful that dinner is! And good for you for realizing that it’s okay to take an unexpected rest day 🙂

  • elizabeth October 24, 2010, 11:49 pm

    What type of cashews are those??? They look amazing!! Is it sugar or salt glistening on them??

    • Caitlin October 25, 2010, 8:54 am

      SUGAR mmm! I think it was honey roasted.

  • maya @ finding balance in tokyo October 25, 2010, 12:11 am

    I try to use the same criteria that you mentioned, but I have a huge problem with 3) will I feel better or worse after the run?

    When I really need the rest it’s very obvious, but I seem to have a hard time telling the difference between normal laziness (usually brought on by lack of physical activity for me) and slight-moderate fatigue. I wish it were easier to know in advance when an run is going to energize me and when it isn’t!

    • Caitlin October 25, 2010, 8:55 am

      I find the odds of a run energizing me vs. exhausting me are about 10 to 1. Exhausting me runs are very, very, very rare.

  • Kimberly October 25, 2010, 1:17 am

    Rest days are super important…good for you to listening to your body!!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) October 25, 2010, 7:26 am

    Glad you made it back safely and had a great visit with your mom! I love lentil sprouts! They are really easy to make and so tasty! I hope you had a relaxing evening and I hope it is a great week for you!

  • eatmovelove October 25, 2010, 7:35 am

    Ahhhh, yes, long drives have the effect of making me even more lazy. I had an 8 hour one a few days ago! …hmm – maybe I should get me some Den Henley…

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin October 25, 2010, 7:44 am

    I like your reasoning! It sounds like a rest day was definitely in order. I hope you enjoyed it! 😀

  • Jessica (Fit and Clean) October 25, 2010, 7:57 am

    I’ve made the mistake of going to the gym when I just wasn’t feeling it. It makes for a horrible workout, and then I feel bad, because I had a horrible workout…it’s a vicious cycle. Sometimes I go and I can shake it off, but more often than not I can’t and probably shouldn’t have gone. You were smart! 😉

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) October 25, 2010, 8:01 am

    Good for you for listening to what your body needs! Sometimes a good ol’ rest day is exactly what we need the most. And sometimes it’s hard to listen. 😉

    Love the rice with sauce combination! I need to remember to do this next time! 😀

  • Amber K October 25, 2010, 12:23 pm

    I have never had rice with sauce, but it sounds yummy! I usually have salsa in my brown rice. I LOVE it!

  • Caitlin October 25, 2010, 6:04 pm

    nice cd! I actually just saw The Eagles on Friday. It was one of the best concerts I have been to!

  • Jess-The Semi Abnormal Gal October 25, 2010, 9:24 pm

    My dad is obsessed with the Eagles and Don Henely….I now have “New York Minute” playing in my head-thanks Caitlin! Ooooooh-ooooooh…..

  • Lisa October 26, 2010, 2:57 pm

    Don Henley is good. I love his stuff.

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