Slow down to speed up: The importance of rest days with Jacqui Bell

by | Oct 9, 2024

4 min. read

“As runners, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more k’s equals better performance. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of running and pushing my limits, it’s that rest days are just as important as smashing out the hard sessions.”- Jacqui Bell

Brooks athlete, Jacqui Bell, is a passionate runner who is known as the Youngest Person in the world to run an ultra marathon on all 7 continents.

Outside of running, Jacqui is also a professional keynote speaker and founder of Run Escapes, a retreat that takes like minded people on a week long escape around Australia full of relaxation, hiking, nutrition wellness and friendships.

In this blog, Jacqui talks us through the importance of giving your body time to rest to take care of not just your physical self, but your mental health too.

Believe it or not, we aren’t invincible!

Unfortunately, it often takes a frustrating injury to bring us back down to earth, which is especially disheartening when you’ve just found your rhythm with training and are seeing yourself running further and faster.

We forget that our bodies need time to recover and make gains, or we’re on a fast track to burnout or injury. It’s like driving a car at 100 k’s an hour without stopping to refuel… it’s only a matter of time before you end up in the garage needing repairs.

Lately, I’ve been living by the phrase “slow down to speed up.” Trusting the process and sticking to my coach’s plan is key to staying injury-free and seeing progress (and this took me a long time to learn).

 

Rest days allow your body to recharge, both physically and mentally, so when it’s time to go hard, you’ve got the energy to give it your best. Something I wish I had been told earlier – easy run days are for running really easy and slow, at a chatting pace, while hard days are when you go all out! Once again – slow down to speed up!

 

Now rest days, they aren’t about sitting on the couch all day – they’re about active recovery. Incidental activity and walking are crucial for new runners, so make sure you keep up your usual walks and social outings, even after a tough training run. 

I also try to be mindful of how I recharge instead of mindlessly scrolling through my phone or zoning out in front of the TV.

Some of my favourite ways to fill up the tank?

Yoga, catching up with friends on a walk, trying something new like indoor rock climbing or a breath work class, and even a bit of gardening. Rest days keep me fresh, excited, and ready for the next run.

If you’re serious about improving your running, don’t forget that rest is just as important as the kilometres. The more you run, the more you need to rest and recover.

Jacqui Bell wears the new Cascadia 18 and Ghost Max 2 – available now!

Bottom line, the ideal time of day to exercise is when it is best for you. Although more research is needed in this area to draw a conclusion on exactly what time of day is the best to exercise, what we do know is that long-term exercise does in fact improve aerobic capacity, cardiac function, management of BMI, and strength. So, the evidence points to moving your body for overall wellness regardless of what time you do it.

Keep that spring in your step this season and embrace your Run Happy journey with Brooks Running!

Our writer’s advice is intended for informational or general educational purposes only. We always encourage you to speak with your physician or healthcare provider before making any adjustments to your running, nutrition or fitness routines.

You may also like:

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This