That’s right, three weeks. Nothing. What’s that? Not even a little jog? NOPE.

Sure I walk around a bit, and I’ll play some basketball or soccer…maybe throw the football around a bit. But once I’ve finished my last race of the year, I don’t do any type of track training for three…straight…WEEKS.

At the end of a long season, athletes are often ending in good shape, but a bit burnt out and tired. It’s only natural. We train non-stop, pushing our bodies to the limit constantly, and doing our best to point all that fitness towards a few key races while trying to hold onto it for as long as possible. In addition to that, there’s all the stress that comes along with travel, fighting off sickness, rehab-ing injuries here and there. Basically, when it’s time to shut it down a little we know we’re ready.

However, a lot of athletes I’ve met really emphasize that one word: “little.”

Most just take a few days off, maybe a week, but then they are back at it training again. Most worry that they will get “too out of shape” and that their return to peak fitness will be delayed.

I strongly disagree.

There is LOTS of time between seasons to get into shape (except ofcourse for indoor to outdoor track). And plus, this is not just a physical break, but a mental one as well. When I start training again, I want to be HUNGRY. I want to yearn for the trails, dream about getting back on the track, fantasize about my next big win.

So I relish in my time off, taking pains to be as lazy as possible. There were many days when I didn’t even leave my house.

And when I get “out of shape,” no big deal. I see it as a challenge… something to work towards in my early phases of training. And each time that I’ve taken more time off than less, I surprisingly get into shape more quickly as well.

Maybe it’s the body reorganizing itself, healing things, rebuilding overused muscles. Maybe it’s just all in my head.

But what I DO know, is that when I start up again I’m eager, anxious, and ready to commit myself fully to the task at hand. London 2012.