Skating "off" days

This week I skated Monday through Friday. I was saying in my previous post that last month I skated very little. Plus I had a fall and I still have a little pain so I tried to not work that muscle too hard. Good news, it's getting better quicker now that I didn't skate and let it rest.

Anyway, last week on Monday, I started slowly and carefully, I didn't try to work on anything, or even review anything, but feel the ice and my body. I ended up reviewing all the Pre-Juvenile MITF, the Ice Dancing warm-up. Tuesday I had my first lesson with my new choreographer but I had half hour to myself  and I went trough all the moves and dance exercises again. It went well. I don't usually skate on Tuesdays because I figured a while ago that I sometimes get tired by Thursday when I actually want to be fresh for my weekly lesson. But half of this Tuesday was just learning choreography, I didn't feel I was working much. Wednesday was one of those good days. I think all the moves would have passed the test. I also got to the actual dance, the Ten Fox and finally got a good pattern and speed into it. Thursday was my usual lesson, and I was a little "of". I didn't feel tired. Friday I felt very tired, the muscles were both hurting and slow, and my energy low. So I figured that I must have been tired on Thursday too...

So, I'm trying to analyze my skating days in the sense of when my body and mind is at theirs best and I can push, and when they are "off" and I shouldn't push. Looking back, I think I injured myself in "off" days. So I really want to be able to identify them and last week, on Thursday I wasn't able to.

Clear reason for "off" days is if my muscles are tired. I find it interesting that I don't always realize my muscles are tired. They are not sore, but I feel heavier, slower... These are always "off" days

The next reasons are also clear but some days I can make it work trough them better then other days. these reasons are if I'm tired, I haven't slept well or enough or I'm sick.Then, if I'm distracted or frustrated from the life outside the rink or the rink,  so I'm not concentrating enough.  These kind of days I have to take it easy and let it go where it goes. These days could became either average, "off", and sometimes they became "good" days.

Another situation is if I didn't skate few days  and I'm not tired, my mind is there, my muscles are rested.  I still have to take it easy, to take the time to review the basic skills (edges) before pushing. These kind of first time on ice days, are never good "pushing days". They are average but I can push them into "off" days easily...

The week skating schedule affects all this, and if the schedule is consistent I can get to where I can plan a little. I don't skate Saturday and Sunday, as there is no convenient ice. Then Monday has to be a slow, feel the ice, review the basics kind of day. If I have few good skating weeks, then I can handle skating on Tuesdays too... otherwise, it's better to skip it. Wednesdays are usually good days. My lessons on Thursday are either slow teaching moments so then Friday I'm not tired, or push for progress moments and then on Friday I'm excited.

It's sounds doable. I just have to listen to my body and take it easy when I'm tired. Otherwise it seams I get into a vicious circle and I get even more tired so I end up having more "off" days. And risk falls and injury...