I try to take a few weeks off from running around New Years so I can get a little break and avoid all the people who are sticking to their resolutions for the first few weeks of January. By the third week of January I am well rested, the roads are clear and I am ready to return to running. The only problem is that after three weeks off, how do I jump back in to running without hurting myself. It has only been three weeks so my mind does not think I should slow down, but my body is telling a different story. All those tequilla shots, enchiladas and fajitas I ate in Mexico are not helping much.

I ran across this article in Runners World that gives a good rundown of how to come back after a break which I thought I would share. Here are some of the highlights:

START SLOW Runners returning to action often carry extra weight, which puts more stress on the body. To avoid injury caused by that stress, run no more than 20 consecutive minutes for several weeks.

JOIN A GROUP Athletes respond best when they return to a team setting.

RECOVER WELL Run every other day for the first few weeks. Rest days reduce the risk of injuries.

CROSS-TRAIN After a month, gradually change your recovery days from rest only to cross-training days. It will help build your aerobic development without increasing your injury risk.

If you would like to read the whole article you can read it here, it is worth the read http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-516–13390-0,00.html