After a week of recovery, I have to say that it has been a challenge.  I'm not used to having the time off from exercise and training, and to say that it has been hard is an understatement.  Now that the week is over, I can sit and think about how this recovery week has helped me, and I found this statement that reflects what the slower pace has done for my training.  Recovery is just as important as the training, and this can be forgotten.  So now at the end of my week, I find myself relaxing and enjoying a glass of wine with my wife on her birthday.  It doesn't get more significant than that.