Before scuttling off to bed last night, I already knew I wouldn't me making it to this morning's CrossFit class. My back is still giving me fits, and as a result, my sleep has been terrible these past few nights. I'm beat, and in no condition to get up in the middle of the night to practice deadlifts.
Yes, I think it's important to stay active while recuperating from an injury. And yes, I've been borderline fanatical about not missing the 5 a.m. class. But lately, I've been sloooowly coming to the realization that sometimes, my body simply needs a break.
Trish posted an excellent article today about overtraining and the need to prioritize rest and recovery. Do I think I'm overtraining? It's possible. I don't exhibit many of the classic symptoms of overtraining (like elevated resting heart rate, declining performance, compromised immunity, and constant crankiness), but I've clearly been hampered lately by a series of injuries. If my body's screaming "no mas," I guess I ought to listen.
So I took today off. By the time Friday rolls around, I'll have had four consecutive days of rest. And during my time away from the gym, I'm going to heed Trish's sage advice:
If you're antsy between workouts, consider using time to improve your mobility instead. Cook a good meal. Go to bed early. Play with your kids. Play with your wife... The answer to faster times and better performance often has more to do with turning the lights out, computer off and getting some good shut-eye than adding an extra run.
She's absolutely right. Our engines run better after a pitstop.
