First Run of the Year!

                                                                          January 5, 20011

There's something about taking a little break from your exercise routine and then returning to a healed, energized, raring to-go body!  The last few weeks I've been under the weather, that combined with the holiday rush, travel, and family time left me practically exercise free for three weeks.  Those few sunny strolls along the beach don't count.

You might say that if you took that much time off it would be impossible to start back up.  Your body may revolt or those hard earned muscles may begin to atrophy.  Perhaps.  I'm not a workout expert, but if you've had some form of exercise routine for a few years letting it go for a week or two will not wreck all the work you've done.  Your body will rest and heal.  Don't get me wrong there were moments when all I wanted to do was jump on the nearest treadmill, but the cold kept me in bed.  Grant it my body was telling me to rest.  This time I was able to let it.  Normally, I'd still have to get up with my son.  But at my mom's house she was there to do that for me.  I didn't have to clean, or plan meals, or do any of the things that keep me from napping at nap time.  I slept in for almost a week!

Not to mention it was over the holidays, so there was plenty to eat.  Add to that the idea of guilt-free vacation eating and I was in heaven.  Luckily, my cold did not warrant  a chicken noodle soup only diet. Plus, I still managed to enjoy some wine and margaritas (not on the same night) which may be why the cold lingered longer than it should.  To that end it was a marvelous holiday.  I still played and indulged, but was able to rest enough in-between to keep going.

So it was not until I returned to New York after three extra days in Florida (thank you blizzard) that I began feeling up to exercise.  Mind you I knew it was time.  My body ached to run, leap, headstand, whatever.  I could not spend another day in inertia.  The weather was in the thirties so I went to the gym.  I flirted with the idea of a yoga class, but really wanted some hard core cardio to jump start my metabolism.  (Again not a workout expert, just felt that was what the body was craving.)  My favorite elliptical machine by the window was available, however, I walked right past it to the treadmill.  I haven't run in quite a while I really prefer to do it outside and once it dips below 50 degrees I'm done until spring.  But on this particular day I really wanted to run.

I stepped up.  Set my time.  Blasted my ipod, and let my body take over.  I was shocked at how good it felt!  All that rest and relaxation meant that not one inch of my body felt kinked or tight.  My muscles felt oiled and happy to be in use.  I panted a little, but that was only when I did the incline sprints.  (Yeah I went for it!)  Everything was just as I had left it.  Almost.  That day I left the gym after my stretching and ab work feeling invigorated and ready to tackle the New Year.  It was amazing.

If you've given yourself some time off from your workouts don't fear the return.  Your body will remember, eventually, and when it does it will thank you... I won't mention the day-after soreness.

Happy Running:)