Am I following this right?

[cybermat64]

I have just started C25K and have been doing the runs every other day - resting on the alternate days- this means I have just done W2R1 less than a week from when I started. Is this right - I know it says Week 1 etc but does that mean I should only run 3 times per week rather than alternate days?

[Rere2016 Graduate]

I run every other day, and then have two days off before starting the next week- so 

Run Mon, Rest Tues, Run Wed, Rest Thu, Run Fri and then have Sat and Sun rest before starting a run again on the Monday for the next weeks plan 

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome, I took a week as being 7 days and ran on a Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday, which I stil do now as it suits my work/life balance . 

Not knowing your fitness history I would say if you are starting from zero ,I.e. no fitness then maybe yes only run 3 times in a week , it takes a While  for our bodies to adjust and also they require the "rest" days to recover 

There is no right or wrong but saying that it isn't a race

Good luck with all your runs and keep posting everyone here is with you  

[cybermat64 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks - I am able to run every other day at the moment as am on holiday (and on week 2!) but I will probably settle for 3 x weekly when back at work as it will fit better.

[vivster Graduate]

You can do alternate days if you like. That's fine. But rest days are important so if you feel you need a longer break, it's fine to take two or three days off between runs.

Personally, I do Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, although I've jiggled my schedule now and then to accommodate other things.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Another very common pattern is:

Mon / Wed / Fri - then 2 days rest and repeat.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Always make certain that you have a rest day. For convenience, many of us did a week at a time like Rere above says. But you can run every other day if that suits you.

[cybermat64 Graduate]

Thanks - I'm really enjoying the running and am recovering quickly (apart from shin pains still in first few runs then they seem to go) will continue every other day as long as recovery is still ok.

[Rignold]

as long as you take at least one day off between runs, it is entirely up to you.

[secan Graduate]

Weeks are just indicative; you must have a rest day (or two, if you need) between the runs.

Most of us find practical to run on fixed days (for example, I run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) and have two days rest between different weeks on the programme. Anyway, if you feel like running every other day and you can manage it, that is absolutely fine.

[jt24 Graduate]

Firstly, well done

8/9 of my weeks have seen me run Mon, Wed, Fri and then 'off' at the weekend. Main thing is that it fits in and suits you and two consecutive days are best avoided. Good luck

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Yes, you're doing it right.

Some people's lives and temperaments mean that it suits them to have set days in the week when they run, and that will mean that they do 3 runs a week. Others of us can do just as you have done, run every other day which will mean that some weeks we'll run 3 times and other weeks 4 (and there's always the possibility of something getting in the way anyway)

It took me many, many attempts to crack the Week 1 podcast, but as I did the 'every other day' thing and the rest of the programme went pretty smoothly (as in, didn't need to do any extra runs) I graduated in about 4 months.