Myth #4: You must rest completely twice a week.
Once you become accustomed to the mental boost you get from daily doses of outdoor exhilaration, you may find it increasingly difficult to take a day off to rest. Without the opportunity to physically release your energy and burn off stress, you may find it difficult to concentrate, focus, and maintain an even keel. That’s no surprise. And it doesn’t mean you’re an exercise addict. Research has proven that running improves productivity, mental focus and mood. And moderate exercise helps people cope with anxiety and stress even after they’re done working out, according to a 2012 study published in Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. So how do you give your body a chance to recover from the stresses of training and get stronger, and still get the exhilaration you crave? Rather than force yourself to do no activity on a rest day, choose another low-impact activity to do during the time that you would typically run. Take a walk or hike in the woods. Practice yoga. Go for a snowshoe or a cross-country ski. Spend that time riding your bike, working in the garden, chopping wood, or even shoveling snow. If you enjoy your gym routine, hop on the elliptical machine or stationary bike for a 30-minute session at an easy effort. If you feel like you have to hit the road, keep the workout to one to two miles at an easy pace. If you have trouble holding back when you’re on your own, make a date to run with friends who maintain a slower pace and stick with them.
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