The Level One Boston Marathon plan has Mondays as my off day from running. In the past, I would have been way more flexible about that. I would have maybe taken Monday off, except if I felt like bounding into the darkness and cryrunning after dinner time—a scenario which would nevvvver happen these days, because I’m too tired in the evenings, and I’ve matured.
My cryruns were almost always about an argument I’d had with Jared. Back in those days we’d been married for like 5 years, and I still thought marriage was all frilly. So when it wasn’t, I’d dramatically throw on my shoes, sob my way down the driveway, and be like, “I’m going to clear my head, don’t you dare follow me! Oh don’t you dare!”
Of course you all know that I wanted Jared to follow me, like they do in the Hallmark movies. Old truck bumping along next to the pretty girl, while the small town lawyer is like, “Wait! It’s all a misunderstanding! I’m the one who bought the cookie factory!”
Spoiler Alert (and if you know Jared, you know exactly what I’m about to type): Jared never followed me. Ever.
The idea that I even thought Jared Lawson would maybe follow me is actually making me laugh out loud. He’d get James into his pajamas, make a bowl of popcorn, and watch the Red Sox. I’d come home, barely sweating, after running 8 miles in 60 minutes, and agree to a peace treaty because I was 27 and adorable, and I wanted to eat the cake that was at home on the counter.
That was then, and this is now.
We’ve been married for 21 years, and we save all our fighting for the month(s) of September and/or October. It works out great for us. Fishing season is open in September, and bird hunting opens in October. That time of year, for whatever reason, I want that guy to freeze his nuts off in the woods, and accidentally fill his waders with ice water just for existing. He also wants those things for himself. So while he fishes and hunts, I watch all 7 seasons of the Gilmore Girls, and by the time Rory takes her job for the Obama campaign (IYKYK), Jared and I are fine again.
All that to say, since we now consolidate our marital fighting to the early fall, and I no longer impulsively cryrun, I can stick to a training plan with exactitude if I want to.
Here’s where you come in. When you’re training for a big, time consuming event like a marathon, it’s the best practice to use your off days from running to get your other life sh*t done. For example:
👉Pick up your dry cleaning (…does anyone actually have their things regularly dry cleaned? That’s the so damn fancy I can’t even relate…)
👉Do your laundry, especially your skanky toilet seat sheets.
👉Clean out your car you filthy animal.
👉Figure out what you’re gonna eat that week.
👉And so on and so forth.
If you think an off day from running means you should do a long swim, or go to hot yoga, change your mind right now. Those are things for your cross training days. An off day on your plan means a day off from all things fitnessy, except maybe a stretch and a dog walk.
Training for these events takes a lot of mental energy and even more general human energy. The whole experience will feel far more achievable, energizing, fun, and positive if your life ducks are in a row.
Eventually, the middle of the week runs will get to 7, 8 & 10 miles. I promise you that 10 miles on a Tuesday will feel much better if your ironing and driveway sweeping aren’t left undone.
Day off means day off. Period. Especially if you’re over 35. (If you’re not yet 35, you’re basically invincible, and can do anything you want anytime you want. You’re fine to run, cry, eat pie, mow the lawn, look great all in the same day, and I’m jealous.)
Today, if you need a kick in the pants to run or to take your off day to focus on your non-running chores, it’s right here in this 60 second video:
Have a great day, friends ❤️💔🌲
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