Am I going to do myself a mischief?

[Reggit]

When I started out on this running lark a year ago I was told in the C25K group never to run on consecutive days as a new runner.

Now my question is, what’s a new runner?

I’ve fairly recently upped the running to either 5x5ks a week with 2 evenly spaced rest days, or 3x5ks and a 10 thrown in if I feel like it (and I have time)- always a rest day either side of a 10k.

It’s definitely working as I’ve been knocking chunks out of my 5k PB recently (32’19” at the minute)

Although I feel great at the minute in don’t want to over do it.

Just wondering what thoughts are on 2-3 runs on consecutive days....

Thanks all

[sTrongFuse Graduate10]

I'm 2 years in, and still run Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and (usually) Sunday, with 10k as my minimum distance. Longest streak was 4 days but found I didn't really enjoy the third and fourth runs, so went back to the above pattern.

If you've been doing it a year, you've probably progressed to where you don't absolutely have to take every other day off, but you still need to be careful; tired legs are easier to injure.

Listen to your body and every now and then take an extended rest "streak". I always come back stronger and faster when I take a few days off every couple of months.

80-90% of our runs should really be at our recreational pace, so as long as you don't push too hard, too often, you should be OK. Ultimately though, only you know you so just work with what seems right and, most of all, do it because you want to, not because you feel you have to.

[Reggit Graduate10 in reply to sTrongFuse]

Thanks, it’s that bit in your last paragraph, over the last few months I’m really having to make myself have a rest day. It’s changed somewhat from, suppose I should go for a run 😂 I’ve learned to listen for little twinges and do take a few days here and there if something needs to fix itself.

Much appreciated.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to Reggit]

I'm very much of the view that if I don't feel it, I don't do it. Other than when I'm specifically going for an HM, I don't really have any distance/pace goals; I just head out and see what happens. I may have an idea of the route I want to take, but that often changes on the hoof. If I'm feeling good and everything is flowing then I'll push myself harder, otherwise I'll just go with the flow and let my legs carry me for as far and for as long as they do. Sometimes just going with the flow can be good for the soul, if not for our time stats.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

3 years in and I can run 3-4 easy days in a row.

Depends how hard you run.

[nowster Graduate10]

I've been running for six months since graduation now, and have recently moved to four runs a week, with three rest days. Two of the runs are short ones, one's a medium length "hard" one, and one's a long one. It has been working well.

I'm varying it this week as I'm trying to not get injured.

As sTrongFuse says, the bulk of your time should be at an easy pace, and a bunch of extra rest days every now and then will help you recover energy.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I have been very lucky avoiding injury over the past 2 years. I put that down largely to the fact that generally I'm not thinking about pace or distance, I'm just doing what feels right on any given day. I'm never going to win races, but that's not why I do it, so it's all good.

[Reggit Graduate10]

Thanks, most runs I try to keep my heart rate below 150 (out of zone 5 on Garmin) doesn’t work on the hills but makes for a more relaxed run.

Today’s was supposed to be an easy run, and it was for 4K, the last bit however... led to another 12s getting knocked off my 5k haha 😂

[Cmoi Graduate10]

I've been running for ten months since completing C25K, mostly three times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. I've always been very "go with the flow," running anything between just under 5k and HM distance.

As I've gone and signed up for a maratrail at the start of October I recently started a training plan which has me running five times a week, with different run types and distances on specified days. Physically it's been fine so far, but mentally it's a struggle (me: I want to go on a lovely long explore; plan: do 15 minutes speed work!) and I've also had to swap things about a bit because of work. If I feel it's getting too much, I'll give myself extra rest days as in theory I should have plenty of time to build mileage. Ahem.