The recovery bit

A proper recovery day during recovery week today.

Yesterday I had made plans to head down to the pool for a swim this morning. But even getting ready last night I was feeling like a big part of me would like to stay in bed.

When morning rolled around I did actually get up and have some breakfast. But when crunch time came and I went to grab my gear bag I the voice in my head got pretty loud. Usually I would ignore that voice and get myself out the door, but since I am on recovery week, I took the opportunity to take the easy option and head back to bed. I am glad I did, I ended up having a lovely morning in bed playing with the family.

My morning reminded me of the other important side of a recovery week and that is mental recovery. In fact I would go so far as to say that mental recovery is possibly even more important that physical. Training and racing flat out full time is very mentally draining. It is very easy to burn your self out if you are not careful. It is one of the reasons that most athletes give themselves an off season, even though really you can race all year around these days. Taking that time to recharge the mental reserves before diving back into full on training can be really important. Sometimes it is important to let yourself take the easy option and skip a session when you are stakes are low, so that when you are in the middle of that big training block you have the resolve to stick it out. That is what this morning was for me.

The other bit of recovery action that happened today was that I had a great massage. Now that I have Friday's off I thought I would try and new place near my house. I figure that making a massage part of my Friday routine every few weeks is not a bad idea. The place I went to was called Sportreat and whilst it has massage therapists it also has physio, sports doctors, dietitians, bike fitting... The list goes on and on. I have only been there once before and that was just to buy a massage ball (you know those spiky balls about the size of a cricket ball). But even with that fleeting visit what I saw impressed me and made me keen to go back and actually avail myself of their services.

As I mentioned the massage was very good. Just the level of intensity that I usually look for. Solid without bringing you to tears. It made me realise that I am perhaps not quite as recovered as I thought I was. I have been feeling fine physically this week but the massage therapist had no trouble finding plenty of tight and sore muscles and really getting into them. I would like to say that I felt great, free and easy when I left, but to be honest I was in to much pain to feel that way. Starting to feel better now though and I suspect by tomorrow I will be very grateful for the massage. I will certainly be heading back though.

Jumping on the bike tomorrow morning. I am not entirely sure what I will be doing, but it will certainly involve cycling.