A Different World: Taking A Week Off From Running

I run practically every day. The only time I take a day off is during a day or two taper before a race. This week, I am taking an entire week off from running  and it is quite a lifestyle change. I liken withdrawing from running as waking up in completely different world. Everything seems different. Maybe it has to do with slowly diminishing amounts endorphins, adreneline, strength or endurance. Or maybe it is because my high-energy outlet is shut off. But the world seems different and I can't exactly put my finger on it.

Anyway, I took the week off because:

1. I started feeling tightness in my right tibialis anterior (the outside of the shin). No real pain, but long runs were starting to be uncomfortable. Probably happened because I was increasing speed and mileage at the same time. A big no-no! Anyway, better to not aggravate it for no good reason.
2. My 18-week Boston Marathon training plan starts next week and I'd like to be at least 90% healthy going into training.
3. I need a break, and what better time than BEFORE I am going full-throttle in an 18-week training cycle!

To better put my finger on why the world seems different, I have compiled a list of things that I have observed about myself since I stopped running four days ago:

1. Phantom Pains - these are the pains usually associated with tapering. I stopped running because my right leg had some soreness, and now my left leg seems to have joined the soreness party for no apparent reason. Ouch! What's that? My ankle is now sore....
2. Diet - I eat worse and am hungrier. Another three cookies for dessert? Who cares? I'm not training for anything! For some reason, I seem to be hungrier now than when I am running. This is also seems to be a classic taper syndrome.
3. Sleepy - I can now sleep 8+ hours easily, where when I am training, I am lucky if I can sleep for 6 to 7 hours.
4. No Goals - I no longer pore over my upcoming marathon training, which I would plan out and tweak over-and-over. It has been completely ignored. I could be doing light cross-training, yet I haven't even been to the pool at all this week. I usually go once or twice.
5. Reading - Only a few days ago, I would frequently read running articles on Runners World, check out race-time equivalents for my fitness-level, and read about marathon training. Now, I don't want to read about running or training. If I can't do it, I don't want to read about it!

Anyway, all of these things will pass soon enough. The world and I will be likely back to normal when I set out running again next week*!  Hopefully I won't have an extended period off from running for another 19 weeks!

Do you feel like the world becomes a slightly a different place when you don't run for an extended period of time? What are some of the things you observe about yourself when you stop running?

* If you see me on the trail this weekend, I guess I couldn't wait a whole week!