Rest Days are the Best Days

What an awesome vacation! This week we I had a chance to go visit my Folks in South Carolina. On top of having the chance to visit my parents, it was nice to unplug… and rest . Precisely 9 days of rest. But truth be told, the plan was to go, Go, GO.

When I packed, I brought my weight vest, scoped out a few gyms, and planned to workout everyday. But my body had different plans. I hurt my foot prior to Murph, and it’s not completely healed, so running was out. Standing, let alone walking, in the sand hurt, I was tired (anyone who has taken 3 kids on vacation gets this), mentally drained from work, school, and even the gym, and I woke up the first day, and got dressed to do a WOD, sat down on the couch… and waffled (see what I did there) around whether I would workout… ultimately, I decided not to. It made me angry, annoyed, frustrated, left with a sense of FOMO, from seeing all of you hit your goals. While I was elated and proud of each of you, my own ego was deflated.

Lauren helped me work through it, with continued reassurance that taking these days as rest days was ok . That my body was telling me what it needed - she was combatting the devil on the other shoulder telling me that if I didn’t workout I would lose progress, daily helping me undo/fight off dysmorphic thoughts that made me think I needed to WOD and anything less would not be ok. My Kids helped me work through it with their unending excitement and playfulness! For the first time, all three of their personalities came out, they let me swim with them and not hold them, they jumped into the pool, they let me take them out into the ocean into the waves, we built sand castles with moats. They have never been that way on the beach, seeing them this way brought out my own playfulness ...My folks helped by making a welcoming home for us to stay and spend time with them on vacation.

Foot aside, I feel my body is rested, and I’m excited to get back to work. I was reminded of the power of play, and how important it is in your fitness. We swam daily, carried beach toys, splashed in waves, ate seafood, sailed a pirate ship, chased kids around to keep Nina and Paw Paws new furniture clean, we had a vacation. It was much needed time. Now I can return to my routine, and pick-up where I left-off, building back a stronger foot, and awesome numbers.

I share this transparently because it is easy to think that coaches have a well disciplined routine, and while we often do, but coaches too need coaching. We need constant humbling and accountability. For me that person is my wife who helpsremind me not to take myself so seriously. Which I know I need. As an athlete I put huge pressure on my success, and having my faith in God and people in my life, like Lauren, my family, and all of you, who keep me level is the only way I succeed. I’m always happy and willing to relentlessly press each of you to listen to your body, because I know first-hand (and by the book ) what the downside is when you don’t.

Set your goals, plan for the best, listen to your bodies take a rest day, and get outside and play , you’ll thank me later.…