To rest or not to rest....

[Prune]

OK, so I know the answer is, generally, ALWAYS rest a day between runs, as that's when your body repairs itself, etc. And in Week 7 I'm not planning on disregarding this advice any time soon.

However, I'm just wondering how many graduates out there can and do run consecutive days? When do you know you're ready to do this? I'm really looking forward to my run days, which helps with work related stress and feel sad on a morning when I know I'll not be running of an evening. I still have hip/knee niggles which I know will need to be ironed out (I need to up my squats quotient!), however just wondered what others do once they're graduated.

Thanks!

[misswobble Graduate]

To avoid over use injuries you really have to take care and develop your running slowly. Your body has to be strong enough to suppirt your running which takes time

Don't be in too big a hurry. Take time to enjoy your running☺

I say that as one on the injury bench from pushing too hard😕

[Prune in reply to misswobble]

Thanks Miss W, I will heed your advice. I'm just so keen! Any indication of when you will be off the IC? It must be hard x

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Prune]

Not at the moment. I am doing what I can to make myself better. Lots of icing of my knee and shin and gentle stretches. I ordered a foam roller today. I had reserved one at Ar*os last weekbut didn't collect it as I was in such pain that I couldn't even bare to touch my leg never mind roll it!

I did too much hard downhill running and now I'm paying the price.

I have been running 2 years in October, but that means I'm still a new runner, and as such should have taken things steady, but we think we have super powers. We don't. I'm 57 mind you so should know better, having not previously been able to run the length of myself before C25k.

[Prune in reply to misswobble]

Thanks Miss W, sorry to hear you're still in pain, it sounds agonising

Hope once the roller becomes bearable you are able to get back out there x

[poppypug Graduate]

Hi Prune . I graduated in June last year . I don't run on consecutive days . I try and run 3 times a week and sometimes cut it down to 2 if I can feel my ageing carcass starting to twinge a bit

I have had problems with my hips through straining by over use so I have learnt to reign myself in a bit ! I would love to run everyday if I could though ! Rest days allow the

muscles and all your bits and bobs to recover and have a breather

Good Luck with the rest of the programme , you're doing great ! Xxx

[Prune in reply to poppypug]

Thanks Poppypug, you'll be glad to know my bits and bobs are having a day off today! The advice makes sense, and I'll try to avoid posting after consuming the Friday night G&T. Never at my most sensible then.

[Doglets05 Graduate]

I graduated over a year ago now and still leave a rest day between runs but now usually put in a cycle on at least 2 of the rest days or a simple kettle bell routine x Listen to ur body x

[ViaM Graduate]

I graduated only four months ago and I still run three times per week. Perhaps you have read this already but if not, have a look, short and informative enough, I thought: runnersworld.com/for-beginn...

[Golddust Graduate in reply to ViaM]

Useful link for those near the end of the plan TY

[Prune in reply to ViaM]

Hi ViaM, that's a really useful article, thanks. I typed that post after a large G&T at the end of a long week at work and after a W7 run, feeling a bit emotional (!) But I know the advice here is sound. No sense in pushing it. I'm going to investigate cross training and think about getting a bike...

[ActonHighStreet]

I run Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday - the two longest runs are Tuesday and Sunday and the shortest is Saturday.

If on Saturday I run anything longer than parkrun, (I did a HM last week and am off to a 10k in a mo), I don't run my full LSD on Sunday.

As others have said, what's important is to listen to your body and give it what it wants on non-running days - rest, active recovery or strength-training.