5 Things I Learned from Streaking: Lesson #5. You Need a Rest Day
Phillip LaPoint
When people hear about a run streak, they imagine someone going hard every single day. That’s not how it works. Not if you want to last. A run streak is not about grinding until you break. It’s about figuring out how to keep going, day after day, year after year, without burning out or falling apart.
For me, that means Mondays are sacred. I take a rest day on Monday as often as I possibly can. I still run, because that’s the streak, but I only do 1 or 2 miles at a glacial pace. It’s not a workout. It’s recovery movement. It's an off-switch for my nervous system. No music, no pushing, just moving gently through space and giving my body the minimum dose it needs to keep the streak alive without asking for more.
Over the years, I’ve learned that if I don’t schedule rest, my body will eventually schedule it for me. And when it does, it’s not polite about it. You’ll tweak something. You’ll get sick. You’ll lose sleep. You’ll start hating the thing you used to love. The trick is to stay ahead of that curve, and rest days are how I do it.
On Mondays, I don’t just run less. I try to stress less. I make a conscious effort to stay off social media, avoid unnecessary meetings, and keep the noise low. I don’t always succeed, but the attempt matters. I try to read something on paper instead of scrolling. I try to take more deep breaths and fewer hot takes. I try to give myself the space to recover, not just physically but mentally.
I also get to bed early. I don’t always fall asleep right away, but I try to signal to my body that it’s time to recharge. That Monday night sleep always hits a little different, like closing the tab on a dozen stress windows I didn’t know were open.
And here’s the funny thing: because I take it easy on Mondays, I’m usually sharper on Tuesday. My legs feel fresher, my mind feels clearer, and my body thanks me by not revolting. That rhythm has helped me maintain a 6+ year run streak without missing a day. It’s not because I’m tougher than anyone else. It’s because I’ve learned how to listen, how to pull back, and how to respect recovery.
There’s a false toughness in pretending you don’t need rest. But real toughness? That’s knowing when to go slow. It’s choosing to protect your long game. It’s setting boundaries even when no one else is watching. That’s what Monday runs are for me, a weekly reminder that longevity beats intensity.
Train hard when you can. Rest hard when you should.
