My training plan for the Thunder Road Marathon has Tuesdays and Thursdays as rest days throughout the entire 20 weeks (Sundays as well after this week). I like the flexibility of being able to make one or both of those a cross training day as it suits me each week. I also like the flexibility of being able to take both days as a rest day as needed, which is exactly what I’m doing this week.
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I’ve been mentioning over the past few days how tired I have been feeling. During my long run on Saturday in addition to the fatigue from running I actually felt like I could just lay down on the side of the trail and take a nap. It makes sense since I hit a new personal weekly mileage high of 30 miles last week, and I ran 25 miles total from Friday-Monday. But at the same time I keep feeling like that’s not really that much. Either way, I am listening to my body and it said to take a rest day yesterday. I am feeling a bit better this morning (albeit still fighting a stuffy nose).
At this point, I am still planning on running all of my miles as scheduled this week (34 miles total when all is said and done). It definitely seems like when you train for a marathon, particularly your first, you walk a fine line between pushing yourself to new levels and over-training. Deb at Deb Runs recently wrote about over-training, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for me as I venture into new territory. Here is a poster she created that lists the common signs of over-training, in case you are also walking the line:
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So far I do not think I have crossed into over-training territory. Deb has reminded me that it’s a fine line. You have to pay close attention to how you’re feeling, but at the same time you don’t want to baby yourself. There’s certainly going to be a certain level of tiredness as my body adapts and I push it further than I ever have before. Hopefully I will continue to walk the line, but never actually cross it.
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Oh, you thought I was going to title this “I walk the line” and not have a picture of Johnny Cash?? How could I not?
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United we stand.
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How do you tell the difference from training hard and over training?
Turkey Runner 
That is THE question I want an answer to! I think I’m very close, if I haven’t crossed the line. The only symptom I don’t have is lack of interest. I still want to run, and run fast! I’m just not able to. So maybe there’s hope?I’m taking a major (unscheduled) recovery week.It sounds to me like you are just tired. You’re running more miles than ever. Listen to your body, and you’ll be fine!Johnny Cash is great.
Your recovery week sounds like a good idea with your shin. Hopefully that will get you back on track and ready to rock and roll.
You’ll know. It’s like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. It feels so good when you stop.BTW – One of Johnny Cash’s last recordings was “Hurt”.LUD.
How fitting!
So glad you’re listening to your body and taking more rest/off days this week! That’s probably all your body needs. Those rest days are there for a reason, so don’t feel afraid or guilty to take them when needed.
I think it was all I needed, because I felt much better during today’s run.
It’s great that your training plan is giving you an additional rest day as your mileage builds. If you feel really, really tired don’t force yourself to cross-train on those rest days. Cross-training is good, but rest is better (if you need it) as your mileage builds! Thanks for the shout-out!
I will definitely be glad to have that extra day as my mileage climbs towards and above 40 mpw (yikes!). No problem, it was a great and very informative post!
I get like SUPER cranky when I overtrain. Zach just kind of looks at me like I’m crazy and tells me to take a rest day, ha.
Haha at least he understands why you’re cranky 🙂