Fit in that Day of Rest

Most training schedules suggest you take a day off in between a hard speed workout and a long run.  I usually do my speed workout on Wednesday or Thursday, take friday as a rest day and then do a long run on Saturday.  That way my legs are fresh for the long run.  This week my schedule had to change so I didn’t get to do speed work until Friday.  I didn’t really think it would make that much difference.  I was wrong.  This morning as I started out for a 14 mile run my legs felt like bricks.  Some days my leg muscles are a little tight even after stretching but today the tight quads, hamstrings and calf muscles were quite noticeable.  Apparently the day of rest does make a difference.  Of course the double-header softball games with lots of base running on Thursday night probably didn’t help.  I do need to remember to stretch after softball,too.  That would have helped.