Rest Days?

[Catrin]

I would like to know how other women approach rest days, especially older women. If I had my way about it I would ride almost every day it wasn't raining, but I've reluctantly come to accept that is just too much unless I want to go from one over-use injury to the next. I do have some events I want to ride in this year, as well as increasing my mtb skills. I do, however, have to be more intentional about the combination of riding and rest days.

Last week I rode 105 miles, more than I did the entire rainy month of April (the week before last I rode an entire 22 miles because I'd tweaked my hamstring and IT band or Sartorius). Not the best way to build my base but it felt pretty good most of the week. I took a day off the bike between the rides...until Friday that is Weekends don't count Monday my legs were pure toast so I took it off, last night I hit the gym to give my legs something different today, and tomorrow I've a tandem ride planned (as stoker) so took tonight off so I will have fresh legs tomorrow. I will likely ride Thursday through Saturday anyway so riding tonight wasn't a great idea.

I am not trying to over-think this, at least I hope not, but I do need to develop a stronger routine regarding rest and riding days or I will revert to old habits. It would be helpful to know how other women approach this. It is a fine line between proper rest and training to improve and a little bird told me we need a bit more recovery time at 50+...