I woke up at 5:40 a.m. Surprisingly, after drinking the night before, I did not feel that bad. I got dressed and went straight down to the gym. Closed. It opens at 7 a.m. That was frustrating. I went back to bed but could not fall asleep again. Instead, I worked a bit and sent holiday wishes to friends and family. Not the worst way to pass the time.
At 7 a.m., I went back to the gym. Since it was a rest day for my legs, I focused on back and shoulders, plus some foam rolling. The rolling hurt more than expected. My quads feel seriously overtrained. That confirmed what I already suspected. I need to take it easier. Rest days are there for a reason.
Even on rest days, some things cannot be skipped. Quad activation, patella mobility, and scar mobility still need daily attention, so I made sure to squeeze those in as well.
Then it was time to hit the road again. Destination: Tainan. I did a quick ice session before getting on the bus. Once we arrived, the hotel rooms were not ready, so we left the bags and went for a short tour around the city. Short turned into a lot of walking. Standing, street food, souvenir shops. The usual pattern.
Eventually, I decided to head back. Even then, I had to wait fifteen minutes for an Uber. Once at the hotel, I went straight to ice and elevation. That part felt non-negotiable. After resting, we went out again for dinner. At least this time there was sitting, but the leg still felt tight. Alcohol made another appearance, which I know does not help.
Back in the room, elevation again and finally rest. Today made one thing very clear. I really need to plan more recovery time for myself, not just fit it in between activities.
Key Takeaways
- Early mornings and alcohol do not mix well with recovery
- Overtrained quads need real rest, not just reduced load
- Some recovery basics must happen every day
- Travel days quietly accumulate fatigue
- Walking and standing still exceed current capacity
- Planning rest ahead of time is essential, not optional