Thursday - 08282008 - Rest Day

Rest Day / Skill Day

YESSSS! It's rest day! Why is the rest day important? Rest is important to muscle repair, as discussed in yesterday's post. More importantly (and in my very humble opinion) rest is important for the mind! When you become more acclimated to the Crossfit workout , you will throw yourself at it harder and harder each time.

The mental fortitude needed to give yourself up physically for three days straight is just as draining as the workout itself. The rest day is your day to get your mind fresh again. Think about that anxiety you get when you first read what the workout is. We often experience what I like to call "The Dread"." Nervousness, anxiety, making up excuses on why you don't need to workout that day.... "The Dread" can kick your ass. We need that rest day to get a break from "The Dread." I don't know about you, but I never experience "The Dread" while I am contemplating sitting on my couch and watching "So You Think You Can Dance" reruns on my TIVO.

You may be asking, "What about making up the workout I missed?" No worries. You can throw yourself at the WODs for four days straight. I have cycles like that myself sometimes. It happens.

I have been Crossfitting for awhile now and I am at a comfortable spot physically where lately if I miss a workout, sometimes I don't even bother to make it up. Trying to maintain the 3 on/1 off cycle can take over your life. Work with it. Everyone is different both mentally and physically. Play around with your workout cycles and learn what works best for you!

And lastly... We call the rest day skills day too. Skills day simply means work on something you suck at or something you want to get better at. Maybe it will be a little taxing, but ideally it should not leave you lying on the floor making One World sweat angels and crying for your mommy. Practice, practice, practice!!!!

For instance, lately I have been practicing my snatch with 65#. I have been working on getting under the bar faster, since I SUCK at the snatch movement. It's a light weight and I am able to work the technique efficiently. Of course, every now and then you might be feeling a little spunky and for the hell of it rattle off something like "Linda" on your off day, but those occasions are rare!

REST DAY~~~SKILLS DAY.....Gotta have it! I'm off to drink a beer and flip through that TIVO playlist.

- Freddie C., care of CrossFit One World

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Rest....OR....Make up a workout you missed....

Quote:
“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.” - Marcus Aurelius