Running on consecutive days.

[Steve_L]

Having done the Parkrun on Saturday, I planned this week to run on Monday (my 10k feat), Wednesday, Thursday and then Parkrun again on Saturday. I wanted to see if I could get three runs plus Parkrun in.

I ran yesterday (5k). I occasionally deliver leaflets for the local newspaper publishers - it's a little extra cash and it helps keep me reasonably fit. I was contacted yesterday to see if I was avaialble to do some this week. I thought about it (everything has to fit around my running now!) and said I was.

This morning I went out and did two hours of leaflets. My G said it was about 9000 steps. I had lunch at about 12, then had a couple of things to do. I went running at three, planning a "long slow jog". It didn't feel terribly comfortable, but then it never does at first, does it? I got into a decent rhythm (though it felt a bit of a shuffle) and was OK. Two laps of the park and I'd done 5k. I'd hoped to go on to 8k, but I was feeling a bit tired and I didn't want to do any damage, so I settled for a smaller circuit and stopped at 6k.

I'm glad I did it, and I feel ok, but I wonder if it was the two hours walking this morning or the run yesterday that meant I didn't feel as good as usual when running. It's also the first run I've done in the afternoon - I'm a morning runner.

What experiences have you had with running on consecutive days?

[Tomas Graduate]

Once you're used to running (i.e., you've graduated c25k) there shouldn't really be an issue with running on two consecutive days. So the "don't run on consecutive days" rule changes to "don't run the day after a hard run".

So in your situation with the 10k on Monday, I'd say you should def keep Tuesday as a recovery day. With your training, it and assuming that your 5k yesterday was gentle, then it should be okay to do a gentle run again today. On the other hand, if yesterday's 5k was a hard interval training, then you ought to let your muscles recover today.

Last year when I was training for a HM I got into the habit of running 4 times a week for a few months. Once I settled into the rhythm it felt perfectly fine, but I was quite careful to make the two side-by-side days easier.

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Tomas]

The 5k yesterday was hard-ish (a PB). I think I was expecting too much of today. Thanks for the thoughts, I'll take them on board.

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

I am now running 5 days per week (actually ran 6 last week just to see how it was) . From my readings , if we adopt a hard /easy policy -- ie an easy day must follow a hard day AND listen to our bodies, then all should be OK. So far it is working for me. But an easy day does not necessarily mean no running at all - it can but it can also mean a short slow run. Actually I am now running with a HR monitor to deliberately keep my HR down low when running every day - whether short or long -- with only two hard runs per week (at Parkrun and a slow easy longrun - which becomes hard because of its length) . My days off running are the days before these two hard runs - with a short 3k slow run on the days after. This has me doing 26 klms per week at this time - I do intend to slowly boost that to 40klms over time.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Don't know what age you are Steve but I couldn't run for consecutive days. I'm 57 and last year I tried running 4 times a week and ended up on the IC for a couple of months! I also can't run in the afternoon. I'm a morning runner ( about 10am after breakfast and copious amounts of tea) and I notice a big decline in my energy levels in the afternoon. If your body can cope with it then take it easy and try it, but be prepared to stop if you start getting niggles.

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

58, IP! Learning what my body can do, but enjoying how it feels to run.

[Rob_and_his_westie Graduate]

Boy, have you got the bug!

I tend not to run on consecutive days, but every now and again I will do it if I'm in the mood. I've upped my typical distance over the last couple of months and it stands to reason that more run time means increased injury risk. That's particularly true if you are pushing yourself, so I've stuck to three runs per week.

I think you have to listen to your body. If it's in good shape, then i would be inclined to run, however, it doesn't matter how much you have the bug, don't risk running on a small, niggling injury no matter how tempting it might be. Take a rest day under those circumstances and do some route planning!

[simonB2013 Graduate]

Last year I passed my 5k and then started pushing things with over confidence. Yes I ended up injuring myself, not running for months and getting rather depressed about the whole thing.

This year I got running again.

However, I am now doing 3 runs a week, 3 swims a week, and a cycle or 2.

First this plan keeps me active every day whilst minimizing my injury risk. Second I'm finding it extremely exhilarating to discover more new activities. Lastly, if/when I do get injured again, I will still be able to get out with another activity and not be resigned to the couch.

Just depends if running is the ONLY thing you want to do?

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Oh it is a complicated business.... as others have said, it is about where and how you run rather than whether it is the next day or the day after.

I think sometimes *we* might not notice but those around us might... it isn't just about the impact on joints, about the physical. It's also about why... as others have implied, if we are being unconsciously driven, because we don't know how to keep running at all if we don't keep running and making it the centre of our lives... because we are somehow afraid not to... because just the running isn't enough, we don't know how to just run, there always has to be some point, faster, longer etc.

[AndyD Graduate]

I may be wrong... but haven't I read that running too much can be counter productive and that there are laws of diminishing returns. I also thought that the rest days were very important and that running e.g. 6 times a week rather than 5 may not make a great deal of difference. I can of course see the benefit in mixing up physical activity (cross training) throughout the week if possible and this may be better than just running.

I very occasionally run on 2 consecutive days, and when I do I follow Bazza's advice and make sure its an easier run on the 2nd run.