To rest or not to rest??????

[Pete1w]

As you may ( or may not) know I'm in training for a half marathon 🤯. The training programme I have downloaded from the SHM website calls for 4 runs a week. Clearly there aren't enough days in the week to rest between each run so my question is am I a competent enough runner (graduated in September and carried on x3 runs a week) to run 2 consecutive days? The half isn't until next April so there's no rush so do I run every other day or follow the plan as it states? Don't want to run before I can walk (if you know what I mean) thanks all and I hope you're all wrapping up warm this weather.

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

I’m trusting the more experienced guys on here, and sticking to at least 1 rest day between runs / only 3 runs per week for now. I think after running for about a year, the odds of getting injured if you run on consecutive days goes down.

Can you find a different plan, or have you time to spend more weeks doing the runs on alternate days for the plan you’ve downloaded? I think many HM training programmes seem to assume people have already been running for some time and doing a fair amount of weekly mileage.

I’ve seen a few comments suggesting our sister Marathon and Race Support forum may be putting up a HM programme for those of us newer to running at some point. Do you perhaps know anything about that roseabi or ju-ju- ?

I’m also thinking I’d like to do a HM next year, but am just thinking of increasing my longer run gradually each week for now. (Using the “no more than 10%” distance increase per week recommendation.)

[Pete1w in reply to mountaindreamer]

I'm leaning towards the 3 runs a week philosophy too. I've got plenty of time as I said so don't want to risk any injuries. I think I've even got time to go through the plan twice. Thanks for the advice and good luck with your HM if you take the plunge..

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

I have read on here that running on consecutive days is not advisable until you have been running for at least a year.

[Pete1w in reply to Elfe5]

Well the kind folk on here have done me proud on my journey so far so that's good enough for me. No consecutive running days for me just yet. Ta very much.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

I'm starting my HM training in earnest, next month...for a March one...but already started building up..but still only three runs per week...( I have been running for three years:))

[Pete1w]

I forgot to add I have downloaded the intermediate training plan. Am I getting a bit too big for my boots(or should that be running shoes)?????? I'm glad you lovely people are here to put me back in my place.

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Pete1w]

Have you signed up to the Marathon running and race support forum? It's a good place for lots of useful information for HM stuff, and just as friendly as here

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Pete1w]

Head across to Marathon and HM forum.. loads of awesome runners there to get you on track...I only just consider myself a ( fairly ) advanced runner...i.e. plenty of running...plenty of 10K + runs.. different terrains and distances...( But I am old )

[Pete1w]

All signed up. Oldfloss I'm sure you're not THAT old. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction both of you.

[Gran4z Graduate10]

I graduated from C25K in June and I too have just started training for a half marathon. I've signed up for the Brighton half. The program the organisers sent me is for runs every other day, and includes the 5 minute warm up/cool down. It's a 16 wk program, culminating in the half marathon at the end of February. 2 of the 3 runs per week are short in comparison to what I have been doing so that's a bonus - for now at least 🙃. It is very varied and well structured - I think.

Most of the advice I've read is not to run every day, it increases the risk of injury. The muscles need to repair and recover as do the joints. I'm trying to do a swim on at least one of the rest days and thinking of dusting off the bike to do some peddaling - supposed to be good and safe because it's non weight bearing.

Happy days, happy running and enjoy the journey - sorry that's so corny, just couldn't help myself 😉.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Mmm... I trained for mine last year on three runs a week. I have always trained three days a week and this works for me. I planned my own programme having looked at a few plans as I wanted to add in a few consolidation runs and also wanted to run the full distance before race day (for my own confidence!) In the end I ran the full distance twice and also had a longer taper than I originally planned due to illness which I think really helped me on the day. Really good luck with your training - which HM are you doing? I am hoping to do my second in the spring having built back up to 10 miles recently for the Great South Run.

[Pete1w in reply to Sandraj39]

I'm doing the Sheffield half in April. Thanks for the advice. I'm already thinking about running part of the course now as about 2 miles in its uphill for 4/5 miles. Not sure I have that in me just yet.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Hmmm it’s a bit early to run consecutive days tbh and to start out on HM training, no? Wait at least til January to go beyond 10k IMO.