Mile a day challenge: Hi, just wondered if... - Couch to 5K

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Mile a day challenge

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate
14 Replies

Hi, just wondered if anyone has done this? Or what you think about it? Obviously it means no rest day but would that be ok as not running as far or for as long ??

Been finding 5k or even just 30 mins a struggle last couple of weeks so was thinking of trying this and then doing strengthening exercises too

What do you think?

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Jeleybelly profile image
Jeleybelly
Graduate
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14 Replies
Pigivi profile image
Pigivi

I'd go for it if I wasn't still on the IC!

runswithdogs profile image
runswithdogsGraduate

It might be the fun challenge you need to get your head back in the game. I'd keep the runs really short and reassess at the first sign of any pain.

Rignold profile image
Rignold

Yep. Sounds a great idea. I was just reading on another page about dome friends who are doing it. Think I will do it too. There is also a 100 mile in November challenge, which you can run or walk or even do on the elliptical machine (I would really rather not ee this as a great option). That's on;y really a 5k a day. I might try that and fall bacon mile a day if it becomes too much.

Strengthening exercises, though. absolutely. Always.

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate

thanks for you replies

sorry you're on the couch Pigivi - hope you're soon up and running

"only" 5k a day ?! not sure I'm ready for that! manage to do my 10000 steps a day one way or another, but 100 miles...?! let us know if you do do it, how you get on

you don't think a mile a day is a cop out then - an easy option from carrying on with at least 30 mins??

will have to start a day late as too late/dark and to go out now - and I'm starving!! and will have to take Bill with me on the bike to measure the distance for me....

still dithering - can you tell !? :)

Pigivi profile image
Pigivi

5k a day should be feasible .... especially as it doesn't need to be all running - If we (as human I mean) did what our bodies are naturally built for we should be able to walk around 10-15 k a day without a bother (when not injured...)

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate

you know - I'd just worked that out! my 'usual' hour walk is about 3 miles so if I just did that for 30 days it'd be 90..

I think I'm going to try - starting a day late to go for the 100 miles

Still not sure about the mile a day running too - or whether to run 3 times a week and walk the others as now

What strengthening exercises would you recommend?

the_tea_fairy profile image
the_tea_fairyGraduate in reply to Jeleybelly

He's going to tell you to squat, and he's right, but brace yourself for achy thighs!

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate

thanks tea_fairy - I'll have to give it a go - can't even take my weight on my left leg to hop!

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

Hi Jeleybelly, I did the mile a day last year for RunStreak from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day. At first I thought it would be easy and I'd be able to do my longer runs as well, and at first I did, but towards the end, I found that running every day, even for only 10 minutes, was a) boring and b) actually a lot more wearing on my legs than I thought it would be. To be fair, when I started I was only running up to about 5k, so wasn't terribly fit. Also, I was running through dreadful snow and ice on some days so that was not inspiring! The good thing was that it made me much faster :)

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate in reply to Anniemurph

Thanks Anniemurph

We tend to walk 45 to 60 mins a day - which can be boring at times but it gets us up off the couch and into the fresh air. I've enlisted him indoors to join in with the 100 miles challenge, so plan is to walk 3ish miles a day weekdays, then a longer walk at the weekends. On each day I plan to run the middle mile, walking with him at either end - a very long warm up /cool down :) . Tried it today and it wasn't too bad. Time will tell....

Hopefully with the challenge it will mean we do it EVERY day - not just when we feel like it - or when its not raining!

Starting it now - and doing it for November - to (hopefully) avoid the really bad weather.

You were brave running in snow and ice - don't think I'dve ventured out in that - would definitely have been on the treadmill. Also keeping it going all over Christmas?! that is commitment for you - I'm impressed

agedsnailspace profile image
agedsnailspaceGraduate

I started doing this on Jan1 and lasted through to Jul2nd when a stomach bug meant I wasn't going anywhere! I love doing it and still try to run every day (but will admit to missing the odd day here and there since my initial streak ended). I am very careful to mix up my runs and to do some at a really low hr - this uses completely different muscles from a fast run. I have done 100miles + every month this year. It is very important that you listen to your body. I make sure not to ignore any aches and pains. It gets expensive on audio books and trainers, though!

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate in reply to agedsnailspace

wow - you make my 30 day plan look simple! That's amazing - a full 6 months without a day off - fantastic!

I will mix the runs a little - still want to do a 5k once a week - will see how legs feel as to whether I do more than the mile the other days - tho if I didn't ignore my aches and pains I'd never run, the inside top of my left leg has been very sore since I got past 20 mins / week 6, but it hurts less when I run than when I walk?!

Interesting that you still prefer to run every day - ie no rest days. A chap I met recently does the same - says it suits him better

Purple_faced_woman profile image
Purple_faced_womanGraduate in reply to Jeleybelly

Hi Jeleybelly, interested that you are having an ache in the inside top of your left leg since 20 mins. When I hit 30 mins and had run it 3 times a week for a few weeks I started sometimes getting nerve pain from there all the way down my left leg (it felt like imaginary lightning) finishing at mid calf and curling round the front slightly. I would also get a more frequent lesser "fizzing" effect - both of these when sitting down. I had none of these sensations when standing walking or running, but sitting down, particularly for long periods (say, a car journey or a night in front of the telly) would set it off. Moving to a new position switched it off, but unless I could get up and move around or brace it against something flexing the back of the leg the fizzing sensation would continue.

I have been having physio on it. We've decided that it is probably related to an old injury in the adductor muscle which never healed properly or healed incorrectly due to some compensating movement I was making. It was alright until the running hit 30 mins and now it's being fixed with a mixture of massage and stretches and exercises. I mention this because of the site of your problem - maybe doing some more stretches might help. I am also using the adductor machine at the gym pushing in quickly and then releasing with glacial slowness. The mixture of massage, stretching and adductor work seem to be working.

Fortunately, my physio guy doesn't seem to think I need to stop running during this treatment - hurrah!

I look forward to hearing how the 1 mile a day thing works out - it's interesting but I don't think it fits in with my lifestyle at present - something to bear in mind for the future.

Good luck.

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate in reply to Purple_faced_woman

Thanks Purple

Will keep you posted

Doesn't sound like I have the ache/pain as you. Glad you're getting it sorted. Think I may need a trip to the doc, see what he thinks....

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