Two Sundays ago I crashed after running 18 miles as part of my Marines Corps Marathon training and was trying to nap.
I limped downstairs into the kitchen and told Bob my legs were twitchy.
"I'm so exhausted but can't fall asleep."
"Have a shot of Old Bushmills," Bob said.
"A real shot."
It was 2 o'clock.
"No sipping."
I poured myself a glass of whiskey and drank it. In one shot.
Read MoreBy last Thursday afternoon I was feeling the effects of the upper body workout I did with Zach Schumaker, my trainer, on Wednesday night. My pecs were so inflamed and sore I wasn't 100 percent convinced I wasn't having a heart attack. In general I welcome delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) because it means I'm placing stress on my muscles, allowing them to adapt.
But then of course I'm forced to change up my training. So on Friday, instead of cross training on the elliptical or swimming, I did walking intervals on the treadmill at a 12 percent incline; no stress on the upper body but I got my heart rate up high enough to feel great getting ready for work and throughout the day.
I was planning to do a long swim Saturday morning but still felt sore. A year ago I would have pushed through but if I've learned anything through all of this it's the value of deloading. So instead, with my head still on my pillow, I smiled.
I'll do an easy run.
It wasn't the run that made me smile, although I enjoy these shakeout runs.
It was the bagel. With peanut butter.
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