Rest?

One basic tenet in running, and running well, is knowing when to push yourself, and when to take a break and give your body some rest.  I am not good at resting; I like to be active, moving, and most of all, running. Sometimes, this gets me into trouble with excessive fatigue, poor performance, or even an injury.  Even then, I am reluctant to take it easy and give my body a break.

Now, though, I am forced to take a two week break due to a recent sinus surgery.  There is nothing like the treat of a gushing nose that will force one to stop, take a step back, and take a break from running for a bit.  While I was a bit annoyed that I cannot run for so long, I am actually now looking forward to the respite.  I hope that a couple nagging injuries can clear up (I'm talking to you, right ankle and left Achilles) during this time.  I am also looking forward to a bit more free time to get things done--running 4-6 times per week is a bit of a time sink.

But more than that, I am looking forward to a newer appreciation of running, when I do return.  Hopefully this surgery will allow me to not only sleep better, but run better as well.  This, combined with a renewed perception of running itself, will keep me going for years to come.