I completed couch to 5K, did about 5 weeks of consolidation and now halfway through JuJus plan (so around 10 weeks of running 25+mins consistently).
I’m thinking of following another training plan once I’m done with JuJus, but it calls for running 6 days a week, with a rest day.
I’m not actually sure I’d do 6 days but I wouldn’t mind doing more than 3.
This is discussed in the following post over on c25k. There’s a link to an article suggesting 6 months. The post author recommends being cautious and waiting a year.
healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Here’s the relevant bit…
“The enthusiastic graduate also wants to start running every day but patience is essential here. The following article suggests having at least six months of running under your belt before starting to run on consecutive days, but if you read it carefully, that is if you are also doing plenty of aerobic strengthening work on non run days and it also states that the over 40s need to take extra care before increasing training load. runnersworld.com/for-beginn...My advice is to be cautious here and wait for a year or so before running consecutive days. Even then, when you do start, never follow a hard run with a hard run on the following day, introduce the runs following the 10% rule regarding overall training load and have a rest day each week. Rest days from all strenuous physical exercise are essential. In fact many sources say that every runner should have a non running rest week every few months. In my experience you will return refreshed and reinvigorated. It is all too easy to “overtrain”, even running three days a week, so listen to that body and rest it.”
I started doing some runs on consecutive days after about 7 months of regular running. That was ok for me. I should say that I never ran more than five days a week. Three/four was normal and at least one of those runs was a fifteen minute easy run.
What are you looking at training for? Are you sure it’s definitely right for the stage you’re at?
I'm not training for anything in particular, just saw this plan that mentioned 6 days and I thought if it'd be wise to follow it. I see now it isn't, so I'll wait a bit longer until I either start to follow it, or maybe I'll just adapt it to fewer runs each week.
Good plan! I recently used the Nike run club half marathon plan which has five runs available per week. I either did a longer week or missed out a run or two when I got closer to the event and needed weeks to be seven days!
I think I worded my question badly. Which training plan were you looking at? People might be able to recommend something similar with fewer days a week or suggest how to adapt it.
Sounds like you’re doing brilliantly with the magic plan. Well done!
I was very cautious and waited over 18 months. Then again I'm old!. I do do consecutive runs fairly often now, 2 or 3 on the trot as it helps me get my runs in without worrying about shifts and the weather. I don't push these runs though. Steady jogettes😊
I also wanted to know the answer to this. I started running in April, then completed ct5k in July then completed Ju-Ju’s magic plan the beginning of September. I’ve been running 3 times each week but only doing a 10k every 2nd or 3rd week. I sometimes have to run on consecutive days to fit around life and work but I still only do 3 runs and If I do a long one I have a couple of days rest after it. I’ve just joined a running club so hoping to do some interval training, a long run and then my park run each week. Good luck with your running journey and completing the magic plan (I loved it).
You are likely to hear various opinions on this but it is worth remembering that it takes a long time for your body to get used to the rigours and stresses of running.
Not just your muscles but tendons and ligaments and bones .
And also worth remembering that it is not your running days that make you stronger, it's your rest days , or non running days .
You are producing micro tears in your muscles when you run , and running again before these have repaired will compromise your progression and also put you at a higher risk of over use injuries .
Most recommendations would be around 12 months of regular running before running on consecutive days.
You are far better missing a run (or 2)
than risking taking yourself out for days weeks or even months with an overuse injury that will often strike out of the blue.
It is simply not worth the risk of doing it sooner .
Thanks for the tips. I understand the importance of rest days and will definitely hold until I do more than the current 3 days a week.
Hi DiogoC , I've never run six days a week, let alone every day! Even when I was training for a trail marathon I only managed five runs a week for the first four weeks of the training plan, before I dropped back to four, and sometimes just two or three.
Yes, I'm nearly 30 years older than you. However, that also means that you have decades ahead of you to enjoy running and to develop, eventually including daily runs if you want to. Building up gradually will help you more. There's no point in pushing it now, you'll do better if you keep taking at least one rest day between run days
thanks all for the comments. the training plan I saw did seem a bit excessive at 6 days a week. I'm more than happy to keep to 3 days, but just wondered what the consensus is. I see that it is at least one year, and I will keep to that. I've had injuries in the past and definitely don't want to repeat that.
I waiting about 18 months, now I may do several on consecutive days.
I ran yesterday and my training plan has one down for today, but woke up and can tell my calf is aching (just not recovered fully from yesterday type ache), so it’ll be a rest day.
When you do get to the point of running consecutive days, listen to what your body is telling you and don’t force it.
Great question DiagoC. I ask myself that a lot, running for about the same time as you. I'm 70 and retired so could run all day! 💪💪💪💪. But the mentors have given good advice especially about what happens on a rest day! And as you acknowledge injury is no fun when you can't run.I did the JuJu time plan to 60 minutes which means I can comfortably do a Parkrun at my own pace with plenty left. Although not running much because of an operation at the moment, I had a nice pattern of three runs a week with Parkrun on Saturdays. I shortened a couple of runs and go a bit for speed (it's all relative) and found this has worked well and running was improving steadily within the parameters for my age.
Finally I've looked around stuff, many use and recommend NIke Running Club NRC app for variety runs. But I like to tune in to my surroundings and run for enjoyment. I'm varying what I do in response to my own body, always remembering NO PAIN, NO PAIN!
Keep running, keep smiling.
It takes 1- 2 years (yes, years) of regular running for your body to become fully adapted to the stresses and strains of it.
Runners who are most vulnerable to injury are ... beginners. Can you guess why ?
How often to run 10k? 🤔
How many days a week do you run?
How often do you run? 
How often do you replace your shoes?
At what point can we start to run consecutive days?
