And on the 72nd Day...

...he didn't rest.

I had planned to. Really, I did. On Wednesday of this week, during my cool-down mile on my tempo run, I told myself, "that's it - on Friday, I rest". My legs were just burned. I love running every day, but I needed a break.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the office that day (really). I was thinking about the compression sleeves that I wear in my calves on all of my runs over 3 miles. I originally bought them after I strained my calf in June, and they helped immensely with my recovery. I figured if they helped with that, why not give them a try with my sore legs? I wore them after my long run on Sunday, and so Wednesday, after work, I wore the sleeves up until I went to bed.

When I awoke on Thursday, I ran for 3 miles without the sleeves, but wore them to work, under my socks. The result: my legs felt great this morning! So after my planned weights workout, I decided to throw on my running shoes, go for about an easy mile or so, and keep my running streak going.

I know I need to schedule rest days. I have a half-marathon coming up in 6 weeks, and I want to go in fresh. I also realize that running one daily mile, in the grand scope of a 12-week half-marathon training program, isn't going to provide me any extra benefit, physically. It's the mental part where I'll benefit.

This is how I see it: if I can have the fortitude to run for (at race day) 114 straight days, I'm going to be able to conquer 13.1 miles on Day 115 with no problem. Not that I have any doubt that I can finish it, but in those last 2 miles or so, when I'm getting tired but close to a PR, I'll be remembering all the hard work and dedication I put into my running since Thanksgiving.

And I'm gonna nail that PR, and break 1:59 on March 17th.