Your last para makes a good point, but i feel if i'd have done more of those weeks i;d have come a cropper. They did have an impact, that is true.

Right now, with working away and having a toddler i am firmly in the run when i can category. Knowing that i'll only get out 2/3 times a week means that I'm starting to work much harder when i do go out. Even for half an hour in london after a day's work. I'm already starting to notice a difference - so if you have enforced rest days, i suppose the learning is give yourself a session that requires some rest from!