At what point can we start to run consecutive days?

[emilyb95]

I completed week 2 of the magic 10k plan yesterday, but am really in the mood for another run today. At what point can we start running on consecutive days without risking injuring ourselves? I started c25k on 21st March, so have been running 3x per week for just over 3 months now. Thanks for your help

[HeavyFoot Graduate10]

I think the stock answer is after a year of running. I realised earlier this year that I could run consecutive days no problem, but have gone back to 3 times a week as I don’t want to make it a habit or chore. Days in between are for yomps in the country or, one day again, swimming.

[emilyb95 in reply to HeavyFoot]

Okay, I will keep to the rest days between runs for now then. Thanks for your help!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

As heavy foot says , 1 year. You will find you need those rest days while extending distance, and may even go for 2 rest days after the long run

[emilyb95 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks for your help!! Really appreciate it

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

To squeeze and extra but of running in I run alternate days missing the c25k recommended double rest days, been doing this pretty much since i started running last august. Just a thought. Happy running 🤗

[emilyb95 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Great, thank you! I sometimes do double rest days when I feel I need them, but lately have just been doing the one rest day as I don’t really get the soreness in my legs anymore

[AgingMetalHead Graduate10]

Everyone is different but I only regularly started running two (and occasionally three) days in a row back in March this year which was around 18 months after graduating from C25K. I possibly could have started earlier but it felt the right time then.

[emilyb95 in reply to AgingMetalHead]

I’ll definitely wait a while longer and see how it goes then, thank you!

[AgingMetalHead Graduate10 in reply to emilyb95]

Most welcome. And I should have added it depends what running I'm doing. I did a hard 10k PB followed by a 5k jog home the other day, and I wouldn't have even tried to run the next day so I rested yesterday. Back out today with a slower 5k so I will get out tomorrow. But I still listen to my body and will change plans if I need to. Good luck with the rest of the plan. The hardest part is getting out there and starting it and you've done that.

[mrrun Graduate10]

I started with half marathon training where you do three on the trot. That was 1.5y into my running. Some do it sooner but if you get hurt prepare for setbacks. Not worth a risk imo.

[emilyb95 in reply to mrrun]

No I agree it’s not worth the risk, I’ll hold off for the foreseeable future. Thanks for your help!

[damienair Administrator]

I’m running 3 years now since finishing C25K. I have at times ran consecutive days, mainly parkrun on Saturday, easy pace 10K on Sunday and then run on Tuesday and Thursday. In April I tried to do 5K everyday for the month, I lasted for 11 days and started to feel niggles, so stopped and went back to 3 times per week.

As said by the others, don’t be tempted to run consecutive days until your running over a year. The rest days are important. I did 7K this evening, I’m looking forward to a lazy rest day and some gardening tomorrow.

Damien

[emilyb95 in reply to damienair]

I’ll definitely wait until at least a year then, thanks so much for your help!!

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

After 6 months I did the odd consecutive day. But it is hard to recover. I can do a few now if I do them all very easy.

[emilyb95 in reply to Tasha99]

Thanks for the advice, really helpful

[Hidden]

It depends on fitness level, age etc

If you want to run more you could try an extra run per week to see how it feels then take it from there.

[emilyb95 in reply to Hidden]

I’m not the fittest, but I am only 24 so have age on my side a bit. I’ll have a think about adding one in and see how it goes! Thank you