Good morning
Please can somebody help? During the C25K the rest days are mandatory and very very welcome.
Since graduating I have started Parkruns on a Saturday so I now have a fixed day as 1 run, so less flexibility if I include a rest day after each run.
Is there a point when you can run on consecutive days? Either just to fit in or to increase to 4/5 runs a week?
Thank you
The recommended time before running 2 consecutive days is a year of running, otherwise injury is more likely.
Thank you. For now I will keep my rest days ☺️
Yes, as Dexy said, best to wait a year before running consecutive days - however I don’t think 2 gentle running days in a row would necessarily hurt after 8 months or so. Just not too often. 😀
Thank you, noted I’m only 6 months in getting ahead of myself as usual 🤦♀️
You are recommended to not run on consecutive days until you have been running for 2 years. I am now running 2 years and run 5K twice during the middle of the week and Parkrun on Saturdays plus a longer 10K run on Sundays. Saturday and Sunday are the only 2 days that I run consecutive days.
Damien
That sounds great, I’m nowhere near the two years, I’ll keep my test days for now.
Yeah rest days are important. If I do a longer run than 10K I give myself 2 rest days afterwards. Running 3 times a week is great.
I did it a couple of weeks ago, (15 months since I started running) to avoid only being able to get 2 runs in the week. I ended up with a sore calf, had to take 5 days rest, and only got 2 runs that week!
Ouch!! Ok that sounds like a good example of why not too, thank you 😊
I am an advocate for taking MORE than one rest day between runs, with lots of cross-training - swimming, cycling, yoga, weights, dancing, barre, gym, climbing, walking/hiking, etc.
But please remember that parkrun needs volunteers! Why not reserve one Saturday a month to take a non-running role at parkrun, then you can have a little more flexibility to fit in extra runs? 😊😊😊
Message received, that’s a great idea. To volunteer to free up and then do a Sunday as my long run. I now have a plan thank you 😊
I graduated a few days ago, so there’s no much personal experience behind my words. More talking to myself, why risk it? I learnt that the easy way, from a serious runner (London M type) I met at gym, who’s got unlucky pushing with a heel bursitis which ended up keeping him away from any running activity for more than three months. Not 100% healed yet. And there are so many similar stories it makes one think that none of us is made of steel. Stay safe, happy running.
Thank you I’m getting the message it’s not a good idea, definitely not worth the risk.
l did and got hurt so badly that l will remember it forever. There is good reason for rest days. I started running consecutive days when l attempted half marathon program and that's the stage where you should be able to run 10-15k with ease. In my case that was approx 1.5 years into my running.
Thank you, noted consecutive runs are being shelved for at least 12 months
Don’t be in too much of a hurry. It takes 18 to 24 months to build running legs. You get there by slow running and rest days
I got a very serious shin splint from over-training. Don’t go there 🙂
Ouch thank you for your help! I’m not going there ☺️
There are no hard and fast rules. How injury prone you are will depend on many things including age and previous exercise habits. You are quite young compared to many of us.
If you increase the frequency of your running remember to make them shorter at first so the overall mileage is the same or even less. Then build up slowly again. Don't just add in another run of the same length. That's a huge increase in weekly mileage and increases you chances of injury.
Great feedback thank you 😊
As roseabi says, volunteer on some parkruns. Its a great experience and it makes you more part of the parkrun family! 😁
Another trick is to run in the morning the day before and in the evening the day after. Alternatively go on a hike / walk or cycle as it helps stretch and strengthen your body.
What other exercise do you do?
😸 Katnap 😸
Thank you, I’m definitely going to volunteer. I do Pilates, I’ve done it on and off for the last 2 years or so, the stretching feels great. I also do Zumba, over the last few weeks Parkrun has taken over my class if I volunteer I can still make Zumba and do a long run Sunday, keep a bit of variety. I genuinely didn’t know if running rest days were for the duration of C25K now I know I’ll work at switching things around volunteering and keeping up with my other classes, thank you for all your feedback, love this group you always get great advice ☺️
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