Yes, that's me in the back
Today began the first day of my three-week winter break vacation, and while I should be out enjoying my first day off, here I sit bundled up on the couch sicker than I’ve been in years. I think there may be a lesson here that I can share with you—being dedicated to exercise is one thing, but completely ignoring what your body is telling you is insanity.
About a week ago I started to feel like I was getting ill—I felt a little run down, and my throat was hurting. So what did I decide to do? I decided to run the Holiday Half Marathon in Pomona. I have never missed a race I signed-up for, and I wasn’t about to start with this race when I wasn’t laid flat on my back with something. I have a feeling that all my running friends would agree: Not dead? Run the race.
I will admit that I didn’t feel sick during the race. My time, 2:20:43, was my best yet for such a hilly course, but it was after the race that I should have taken the time to recover. The race was on Sunday, and the next morning, despite the fact that I had sore muscles from the 13.1-mile course, and I was feeling a little under the weather, I was at Crossfit at 6 AM for my first workout of the week. In fact, when my coach heard that I had run a half marathon the morning before, he asked, “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be taking a rest day?” I laughed and told him I was fine—after all I must know best what my body is capable of, right?
About a week ago I started to feel like I was getting ill—I felt a little run down, and my throat was hurting. So what did I decide to do? I decided to run the Holiday Half Marathon in Pomona. I have never missed a race I signed-up for, and I wasn’t about to start with this race when I wasn’t laid flat on my back with something. I have a feeling that all my running friends would agree: Not dead? Run the race.
I will admit that I didn’t feel sick during the race. My time, 2:20:43, was my best yet for such a hilly course, but it was after the race that I should have taken the time to recover. The race was on Sunday, and the next morning, despite the fact that I had sore muscles from the 13.1-mile course, and I was feeling a little under the weather, I was at Crossfit at 6 AM for my first workout of the week. In fact, when my coach heard that I had run a half marathon the morning before, he asked, “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be taking a rest day?” I laughed and told him I was fine—after all I must know best what my body is capable of, right?
The Killer, Tuesday Crossfit Workout
On Tuesday, we had our most difficult workout since I started my Crossfit training (see picture of whiteboard at right). We started with a warm-up of 60 jump ropes and a couple rounds of box jumps, push-ups, pull-ups, etc. We did a little weight lifting before moving on to the Workout of the Day—rows and my all-time least favorites, burpees (more than 80 of them). I was so worn out by the end of this workout that all I wanted to do was go home and jump back into bed. Unfortunately, I had to teach lessons to four different classes that day, so this was not an option. By the end of a full day of teaching, tutoring, and mothering, I honestly wanted to collapse.
So, you would think I would finally listen to my body for Wednesday, right? But, no. My not-so-bright thought was that Crossfit was not open at 6 AM on Thursdays, so I needed to tough it through one more workout before a rest day was warranted. What I failed to take into account was that I not only woke up at 5 AM to get to Crossfit, but I had a full-day of work in addition to two afternoon/evening meetings that would not have me home before six that night. And while I did take Thursday as a non-workout day, I was right back at Crossfit on Friday before the sun had barely come over the mountains.
I ended up coming home sick later that day, and here I sit miserably on the couch instead of having breakfast with my friend, instead of playing with my kids, and instead of getting my much needed Christmas shopping done. Now I am sure that many of you are thinking that I deserve to finally be relaxing on the couch after such a busy year of work, exercising, and parenting. It would actually be ideal except for the fact that I am so sick that for most of the day I could not even lift my head off the pillow due to what I am assuming is a migraine due to exhaustion. If I am going to relax, I want to watch movies, read books, play with my kids…anything other than what I was able to do for most of today: sleeping and praying my head would just stop pounding.
So, you would think I would finally listen to my body for Wednesday, right? But, no. My not-so-bright thought was that Crossfit was not open at 6 AM on Thursdays, so I needed to tough it through one more workout before a rest day was warranted. What I failed to take into account was that I not only woke up at 5 AM to get to Crossfit, but I had a full-day of work in addition to two afternoon/evening meetings that would not have me home before six that night. And while I did take Thursday as a non-workout day, I was right back at Crossfit on Friday before the sun had barely come over the mountains.
I ended up coming home sick later that day, and here I sit miserably on the couch instead of having breakfast with my friend, instead of playing with my kids, and instead of getting my much needed Christmas shopping done. Now I am sure that many of you are thinking that I deserve to finally be relaxing on the couch after such a busy year of work, exercising, and parenting. It would actually be ideal except for the fact that I am so sick that for most of the day I could not even lift my head off the pillow due to what I am assuming is a migraine due to exhaustion. If I am going to relax, I want to watch movies, read books, play with my kids…anything other than what I was able to do for most of today: sleeping and praying my head would just stop pounding.
Lifting 80 pounds, but looking a little tired
So what did I learn from this little fiasco? I am hoping I learned that being dedicated is admirable, but if I want to continue on this journey to a healthier me, I need to listen to my body. I say hoping I learned because I have been known to forget great pain once I have lived through it—hence I have three kids despite the fact that each pregnancy practically killed me (and I can assure you that I am not exaggerating this…at least for the last two). When my muscles tell me I need a little break, I need to listen to them and take a day off. When I am feeling tired and worn out, I need to rest. And when I feel like I am going to collapse from exhaustion, I cannot be so afraid of missing a workout that I push my body beyond its limits. Once again, I need to remind myself that I am in this for the long haul. I am never going back, but one less workout a week will not make me the 230-pound person I once was. However, pushing myself too hard might set me back for a lot longer by causing a more serious injury or illness…or just causing me to burn out.
This blog is dedicated to my friend Tony, also know as Endorphin Dude, who will soon be finishing Marathon #52 of the year. Kudos to you my friend for running all 51 (soon to be 52) despite great physical pain at times, but hoping you will take a little well deserved rest and relaxation in the new year. To give to Tony's charity, please click here: For Chewbacca's Furry Friends
This blog is dedicated to my friend Tony, also know as Endorphin Dude, who will soon be finishing Marathon #52 of the year. Kudos to you my friend for running all 51 (soon to be 52) despite great physical pain at times, but hoping you will take a little well deserved rest and relaxation in the new year. To give to Tony's charity, please click here: For Chewbacca's Furry Friends
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