Years ago, when I was even more of a crazy motivated sweat junkie, I made an appointment with a registered dietician to help with the fueling part of my workouts. Back then, I was heavy into marathon training. I qualified for Boston (3:30) on my second try, and then ran three marathons (including Boston) in one year. I do not recommend doing this. After the second marathon in Burlington, VT (which was only weeks after Boston) I came down with bronchitis but still ran Hartford several months later.
In the midst of this insanity training and racing, I met with renowned sports nutritionist to the elite, Nancy Clark. Now, I was not an elite by any means, but I had the ability to get an appointment with Nancy in nearby Boston, and who would pass up that opportunity? I was actually ready to be praised by her for my discipline, hard work and tenacity. Instead, she looked over my pre-filled-out paperwork on my training and eating habits and said “Why can’t you just sit and rock?” I have never forgotten it. She thought I needed some serious downtime and she was absolutely right.
I like to think I’ve learned a lot since those days, and I now like to take my relaxing very seriously, which is why I decided to book a resort in Portugal for my post-World Championship race recovery.
We came to Obidos, Portugal by way of Porto. You heard about the parking debacle we ran into there, but Porto itself was named by The Huffington Post as one of the top “Overlooked European Cities You Must Visit In Your Lifetime.” No doubt. It was historic, gorgeous and filled with amazing food:
Still, Obidos was my favorite part of Portugal, by far. First, there was the most amazing beach I’ve ever seen…with surfers:
The boys, hand in hand, going down to run from the waves.
Then, we explored “downtown” Obidos which, much to the boys delight, had a real castle. And, much to our delight, had some great shops and restaurants. It was like being transported back in time:
Coolest bookstore ever!
Needless to say, I had ample time to “sit and rock” and I enjoyed every moment. I’m still wrestling with what race/training I want to do next, but I’m not overly anxious about it. After attending and speaking at FitBloggin‘ (a fitness blogger conference) this weekend in Savannah, I was inspired to do A LOT. I will definitely be posting and talking about my experiences there and all the great people I met, famous and otherwise, but right now I’m just going to sit and rock on it a little more…
Do you take the time to sit and just be?
Best place you’ve been on vacation to relax and have serious downtime?
Even more of a sweat junkie??? WHAAAAT? Just kidding. I love those pics. Now I have to go! My hubby and I are both a little fearful of flying over the ocean like that but I know it’s a necessary evil if we want to be more adventurous. I can’t wait to hear about Fitbloggin. I really want to attend one some year. Hopefully there will be one close enough to Buffalo again.
I know – can you imagine? I didn’t have kids so I had a lot more time!
You know I have a horrible fear of flying and I was absolutely fine. Those huge planes they fly overseas are like floating hotel rooms with TVs, movies, snacks, pillows, blankets – you’ll love it.
FitBloggin is in Denver next year so… but maybe you can do an Ignite speech and have your ticket paid for!?
That may work!
My best sit and rock vacation was in St Thomas/St John for our babymoon. Out butts were parked in the sand 90% of the time. It was awesome! But now I need to sit and rock in Spain. Looks gorgeous!
That sounds lovely! So glad you enjoyed some rocking before the twins came 🙂
I have a hard time just sitting and rocking but I know I need to. I’m working on it 🙂
I hear you!! It’s definitely hard but I feel better when I do…like taking medicine or doing PT exercises.
Looked like the perfect place to relax and will say that I love just being able to relax in the evening in my own bedroom reading on my iPad. Best and most quiet place and time of the day.
I also love to read. I actually didn’t mind my flight home that much because I was so involved in my book!
I am the sit and rock expert, dude! 🙂
I’m glad you had down time. It’s just as important as training hard.
Obidos looks GORGEOUS.
Ha ha ha – yes you are! And Obidos is freakin amazing. I highly recommend it!
Sit and rock. On a gorgeous beach. With beautiful places to explore with your kids. Sounds like the perfect reward for your months of training, dedication, and sacrifice. I’m so glad you took advantage of your trip to create memories with your family. Can’t wait to hear all about your trip to FitBloggin’! Savannah definitely counts as Sultry South!
I’m so glad I did it too. I couldn’t see past that race for so long and then, once I booked that hotel, I would dream about it being over and sitting there. The problem is, I’m still dreaming about sitting there!!
Oh yes, I was sweating buckets in Savannah!!!
That is simply STUNNING Allie. I can see how it would be easy to just sit and rock there…WOW. And you spoke at FitBloggin…you are AMAZING my friend!! What an incredible journey you have had this summer! :)-Ashley
Thanks Ashley! It’s been pretty SCARY but I’ve done it. Which is why I need more sitting and rocking!
WOW A meeting with Nancy clark, I would have gone in knowing probably what she’d say too 🙂
Ok so I’m trying to recap my France trip and have to know didn’t you find this so hard?! I’m like I have these photos, but they just don’t really show you how amazing it was!
I know!!! The photos will never do it justice – although I’m enjoying ALL of yours. It was very hard and I could have easily done 5 posts just on Obidos! Looking forward to your recap and more photos – of course!
Oh my gosh! This looks amazing! I love the resort! I love the beach! I love the castle! Everything just looks so wonderful! You definitely did a good job of sitting and relaxing!
My problem is that “relaxing” usually involves doing 100 things that I think are fun. Sitting and doing nothing is hard but I’m trying to force myself to do that at the beach this month!
You really should. Maybe you can do what I did – exhaust yourself (in the most pregnancy friendly way possible) so that you actually WANT to just relax. Also – you need to enjoy your downtime before that baby comes 🙂
Gorgeous photos! That pool looks incredible! I could do some serious relaxing laying out there 🙂
I basically made it my job. It was pretty easy in that setting and no one else was doing anything either 🙂
Wow…looks amazing! I love to sit and relax in the mountains. I can’t wait to head north this week. But I did have a moment like yours yesterday in the pool. Sometimes i love to just watch my kids play and have fun. So glad you had a great trip – the beach looks fantastic!
Thanks Kristen! You must be so looking forward to heading to the lake. I hope you post some pictures of your adventures!
I am loving all these pictures of your adventure, you are giving us a sneak peak of your trip and it is wonderful! I am definitely bad at sitting and allowing myself to just be, but I am working on it, and I am slowly learning to relax which is good for me….and I am sure will be even better for my running. I am sure you will have plenty more adventures like this to share with us in the future, and I look forward to it 🙂
Thanks Tina! I’m glad to know that you’re not so good at “just being.” Maybe it’s just part of being an athlete??? Probably, but like you said, it helps our running – no matter what level we’re at!
I am going to sit and rock next week at the beach – I can’t wait! I need it, my kids need it – I plan on being so relaxed that I may just puddle onto the floor. It won’t be as beautiful as Portugal, but it will be pretty darn awesome.
That is great news! We all need puddle time 🙂 Enjoy!
Obidos looks phenomenal I love all the pictures! I am also very happy that the Portugal recaps weren’t over with the race! I was sad and I thought that was the end, then you give me this GEM! 🙂 So much fun hanging with you this weekend, its official–you are one of my sisters from another misters. Come to the philly BBC! That way we can hang again even if for a little while and you can give me some tips because I just committed to my first 10k 2 weeks after that! Back to your question: The last time I sat and rocked was 2 month before my wedding when my grandfather passed away and we were all in Jamaica…it was a sad time but it was such a joyous time spent with my family…ah that makes me want to sit and rock right now!
I’m not sure I can even type! It’s official? We’re sisters? Best news ever 🙂 It was so, so great seeing you for 4 whole days and getting to hang out and talk and laugh. I was planning on going to BBC Philly but then one of my best friends announced her wedding on THAT DAY! Oh well. Hopefully I’ll get in to the NYC Meet and Tweet or I’ll find another reason to come to NYC!
I’m sorry about your grandfather. It’s most often though tragedy that we get the perspective to sit and rock. And yes, I wish I could do it all day today!
LOVE every single one of those pictures!!! The beach pictures all make me happy and the bookstore is pretty great, too!
I can’t wait to hear about your time at FitBloggin” – wish I could have heard you speak!!!
It was really so amazing to lay on that beach and just lay!
It won’t be the same but I’m pretty sure they put the videos of the speeches on YouTube so I’ll be sure to track it down… 🙂 Thanks Kim!
I don’t! It seems to be all or nothing with me. So bad.
On Saturday when we were at Scarlet’s birthday party, and had been sleepless and broke planning it, my father-in-law stood next to me and we talked about how we’re going to the Cape Cod house in a few weeks. I said, “I think.. I just want to sleep the whole time. And read.”
And my in-laws said, “I hope you do. We’ll watch the kids.”
Here’s hoping we can all stand by our words!
Are there sweeter words ever spoken??? You should absolutely try! I’m so sorry we missed Scarlet’s party. I hope you post about it. Or not – whatever you want… 🙂 I just hope it was magical for her!
This looks amazing! I need to go sit and rock somewhere. I need to travel. I have heard such amazing things about Portugal and want to visit for sure. I also can’t wait to hear about Fitbloggin!
It’s a great place for kids too! There’s so much for them to do, that you CAN sit and rock.
FitBloggin’ was a great experience on so many different levels. I’m still trying to digest it all.
Hmmm…sit and rock. I like that phrase! I can’t recall the last time I did that…between working full time, an active runner, mother, and planning a wedding I always feel wiped out! I NEED a sit and rock WEEK! So ready for the honeymoon in Oct! 😉 beautiful pictures by the way!
Can you imagine a whole week of sitting and rocking? I truly hope you get to do that on your honeymoon!!! Thanks Jess.
I really need to sit down and be more often. My boys are so incredibly busy it is hard! When they go to bed at night I need to catch up on a million things around the house nevermind sitting down and catching up on all of my blogging stuff. But I enjoy that, so I don’t look at it as work. That resort looks amazing…and that beach? So jealous! I need a break!
I hear you! My nights have turned into major catch-up and clean up and THEN I sit down to do (more) blog work. It’s getting nutty!! I thought the summer would be a good time to slow down, but it seems like everything is sped up!
Time to relax is always good. My favorite place to do that is in the spa at Hotel Viana in Westbury, NY.
I feel after FitBloggin.. and especially your Ignite… I am ready to turn up and reach some new goals. I started my competition diet today. 🙂
WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!! I could not respond to this fast enough! I am here for you – whatever you need. I know you can do this and I want to be a part of your journey. Take it one day at a time and you will be golden!
So I just yelped OUT LOUD “Oh my Gosh!” THESE PHOTOS – breath taking. My envy – THROUGH THE ROOF!!!!!! I WANT TO GO SO BADLY, I cry! I cry I tell you!! I need travel, RIGHT NOW! I wish my Chevy Traverse was also a hover craft! I would pick you up and we could go back over to Portugal! LOL!
Make it happen!!!!
What absolutely stunning pictures. They’re a testament to the healing powers of learning how to sit and rock!
You said it! I wish I could teleport back as needed…
I will admit I am not very good about downtime. But it’s important. Your pictures are beautiful. We have a very good friend who is from Portugal and his father has a home there. Whenever they go back, the pictures they share are beautiful.
Oh how I wish I had a house there. Maybe they can adopt me? The boys were asking just yesterday when we’re going back!
What a gorgeous time you had. Apparently, I have sat and rocked either so now I am doing A LOT of sitting and consequently rocking (as in crazy person rocking). It’s good for the head. Since we aren’t the sit and rock type of people we have yet to take a truly relaxing vacation. However, we go to mystic every year and stay in the cabins at the KOA and it is really relaxing. They have a ton of stuff for the kids to occupy themselves with. And I am hoping to get some beach time in Lake Placid.
There is no ying without yang unfortunately for our personality types! Relaxing in a cabin at Mystic sounds wonderful, and you should definitely schedule some beach time in Placid!!