“Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Work, continuous work, and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last.” ~ Hamilton Holt

Spartan Shape-Up, Day 65:

Perhaps one of the things that I have unconsciously improved upon during this shape-up experience is body awareness. In the sense that I know what it feels like when my body is functioning at peak feels like, what fatigued but not 'done' feels like, what totally gassed feels like, ... or when something is just not right. When you spend much of your days pushing your body to new, faster, stronger, higher limits, you just sort of acquire this knowledge along the way, it seems.

Which leads me to today. Yes, I was going to be writing a fabulous blog about my first amazing buddy run. Alas, I am not doing that. My back muscles said no. Between Wednesday's swing workout and yesterday's squat-tastic Crossfit time, I'm sore. I'll admit it. But, as I say often, I exist almost pretty constantly on a gradient of sore-stiff-fatigued these days.... Usually "sore" does not keep me down, as I generally find that still working out (maybe a little gentler), often helps these things feel better and loosen up. However. My low back is still pretty stiff. My arms and shoulders are tight. The whole shebang. My body is really telling me something today, and I felt compelled to listen. This is KEY. Yes, tomorrow was my 'scheduled'  rest day... but my body actually needed it today (coupled with the fact I haven't been sleeping great this last week), so today it was.

I'm thinking I'll attempt a relaxed run tomorrow, and see how it goes... I can feel the soreness subsiding, but I think my body just really needed a good solid day of being able to put my muscles back together. LOL. I am REALLY glad I took that ice bath the other night, as my legs may be the only thing that DON'T feel stiff at the moment. Wow. Did I really say that, "I'm really glad I took that ice bath..." Oh my. Who knew? (What have you done to me, Margo?!)

In other news, I am happy to report that I'm still logging my food. I still am not particularly excited about that, but it certainly has been enlightening. Namely, I need to go grocery shopping so my log looks a little more exciting/colorful. Feeling pretty triumphant that I am still doing it... My key tactic: I made it part of the routine. Fill out the food log, training log, save the updates, bust out the blog.... just all part of the routine.

I'm off to bed now, I think. Getting ready to turn off the alarm and sleep the living daylights out of my pillow. My body needs it, my brain needs it (had a little bit of a cathartic mental crazy leak this evening... Even the best of us can't keep it together all the time!), the World needs me to have it.

Sometimes, you just have to give yourself permission to Rest.

OH and to my Spartan Chicks & Sparkles owning the course at SI this weekend... a big AROOOOO!!! May your legs be swift, your arms be powerful, and your mind a fount of iron will! Get out there and make the mud look good! :-)