Taking A Break Can Help Your Training

Caitlyn Davey • April 2, 2025

Recently, my wife and I took a break from day-to-day life and headed to Thailand for a week of rest and relaxation.


Initially, I had it all planned:

  • I found a resort with a fantastic gym.
  • I even programmed a week’s worth of workouts based on the equipment available.


After day one, following a solid bench and accessory session, I realised something important:

➡️ Part of taking a true break meant stepping away from active training—and that was a healthy choice for me.


Realising the Need for a Different Kind of Recovery


My full-time job revolves around exercise.


My hobby revolves around exercise.


And although I don’t train as intensely as I once did, I still train consistently.

It became clear:

  • My body needed a rest.
  • My mind needed a break from constantly thinking about programming, training schedules, and exercise goals.


So I scrapped the workouts for the remainder of the trip.


Instead, we chose active relaxation:

  • Lots of swimming
  • Walking
  • Enjoying amazing food
  • And, yes, the occasional cocktail


The Result? Total Refreshment

Taking this approach left me feeling:

  • Mentally refreshed
  • Physically recharged
  • Excited to return to the gym ready to hit it hard again on Monday


This small shift reminded me that training recovery isn't just physicalmental recovery is equally vital for sustainability and long-term progress.


Key Takeaways from the Trip

🧠 Take time away from the grind:
If you need to step back—
it’s okay. It's often exactly what your body and mind need.


🍴 Enjoy the experience:
Whether that means
easing back on training, indulging in incredible food, or having a few cocktails—embrace it without guilt.


🏋️‍♂️ Or keep some structure if needed:
If you’re someone who feels better with a bit of
training structure even while away, that’s fine too! Active recovery can help flush out your system and keep you feeling good.


The most important thing: Do what feels right for YOU.


Need Help Planning a Holiday Training Routine?

If you’re planning a trip and want guidance on holiday workouts—whether you want something structured or something light—speak to the Rebuild team.


We’re always here to help you find the right balance between rest, movement, and enjoying life to the fullest.



Because real fitness is about long-term health, not just grind after grind.

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A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
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 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
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 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
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Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
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