Rest days

[hammondsgc]

Up to Week 5, due to tackle Run 2 tomorrow. Do people think that it is necessary to leave a rest day between each run at this stage? I can understand the need to have rest days when just starting out but are they as essential at say Week 5 onwards when muscles and stamina should have improved?

[Beek Graduate]

It is vital to have the rest days. You need them so that your body can heal after the new unusual (for you) activity you've been doing. The further down the programme the greater the activity and, yes, you will be gaining muscle tone - but the rest days are essential to prevent injury. The same goes for stretching as soon as you've finished your workout.

[hammondsgc Graduate]

Cheers Beek

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Oh yes rest days are important. 3 years down the line I still take a rest day, I don't become inactive though I just don't run. As you become more used to the exercise your body will want more activity its a bit like a drug (in a good way). So find something different to do on your rest days, swimming, weight training at a gym, cycling just about any thing that will leave those leg muscles some time to repair any damage your running will have done. Don't discount walking either it can be good for loosening off tight muscles but it won't have the same impact on your joints that running has. Enjoy

[hammondsgc Graduate]

Thanks Oldgirl. I do cycle in to work (4 miles) pretty much every week day so that keeps my legs moving on my rest days. I think the more runs you do the more the "moth to a flame" syndrome sets in and you get anxious about the next run but at the same time you want to get it done!