feeling guilty??

YUP! Even planned days off can leave me empty and grumpy . However, I have to keep telling myself that days off are an integral part of training. I've had some great results, usually a personl best after a day off. My wife doesn't like my days off 'cause I can get real grumpy especially if I'm stressed about something. I just remind myself that elite status is not in my future and training and racing are what I choose to do, therefore I don't need to beat myself up either physically or emotionally. Plus I've come a long way in the past two and a half years, so I figure I deserve a day off now and then. But I always need that reminder now and then.

without giving your body enough rest, your progess will diminish pretty quickly. I can definatly relate to the idea that a day w/o a good workout is a day wasted, but when i come back on monday after the weekend off and have a great workout and feel a lot stronger and faster than i was on friday, its well worth it....

I dont think any serious (or even not-so-serious) athlete can have a significant workout 7 days a week and still get faster... and if it makes you feel any better, you can spend your days off doing plenty of stretching/massaging to increase your flexibility and reduce fatigue

Don,

I'm with you. On my off days, when I'm feeling especially grumpy, I'll go for a walk or plan non-strenuous exercise (e.g. throwing a frisbee with the kids, etc). Even that li'l bit of exercise seems to get the juices flowing and elevates my mood.

My wife wants to kill me on rest day! Even though I know that it's good for my body, I'm antsy and almost literally itch to go do SOMETHING. I usually find that I want to eat more on rest days and that if I substitute some flexibility stretching in for a workout it helps....and of course I feel guilty when I go to bed...like I skated out of something I HAD to do! ...sick but true...gotta love this sport huh?