Cheating.

[Gograndad]

I have to admit that I cheated week 1! I didn't read the instructions carefully and ran every day. I've just done my week 2 run 2 after a day of rest yesterday, but don't feel as good after a rest day. My daughter said to listen to my body - and it's telling me I can run every day, but I now know the programme is to only run 3 times per week, and actually that feels like cheating, with not running every day! ( I am cycling every day though). I already know the advice I'm going to get, only run 3 times a week and I'll probably stick to it... The problem is I feel so good I want to run every day... Is this initial euporia which will wear off? I suppose I could cycle extra distance and just do the 3 times a week...

[MichaelH070862 Graduate]

You are so right that you will be told to take rest days so consider yourself told while you might feel okay at the moment when it starts to ramp up the times and distances you will cover you will need to take the rest days to rest and repair the muscles keep doing the cycling on rest days but remember you do use different muscle groups when cycling anyway well done so far

[poppypug Graduate]

Oh Grandad !

I cannot fault your enthusiasm that's for sure

Yes , rest days are really important, its when the muscles repair and recover from any little nicks or little strains.

They really come into their own as the runs get longer , you do need them .

You can do other things on your rest days , as long as its not running !

Well done , youre doing great, keep going ! xxx

[Millsie-J Graduate]

The rest days are really important and part of the reason the programme works. Whilst you may feel ok with running daily now, as the running increases you are more in danger of injury and strain by not sticking with the tried and tested programme.

Do other exercise on rest days, that will compliment your running.

Keep us posted!

[Lon70 Graduate]

Lots of good advice here and if you injure yourself...? Nine weeks on 3 runs a week passes very quickly and you will enjoy your graduation badge and all your other activities

[Gograndad in reply to Lon70]

Do we actually get a real, wearable badge Lon70, or is it a virtual badge sort of thing for on your avatar ?

[Lon70 Graduate in reply to Gograndad]

As far as I know it is only virtual. But it is still great.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Lon70]

There is a really lovely actual badge available if you want to treat yourself on graduation.

c25kgraduatebadge.co.uk/

[Amandalawrence74 Graduate]

Yes it certainly was very exciting in the beginning and I too felt I could go every day but resisted the urge and graduated today without injury 😃. Keep up the good work and enjoy the wonderful buzz you get from running.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Stick with the programme. It's got thousands of us through to running for 30 minutes, and it's designed by experts to avoid injuries. Unless you know better.....?

Your enthusiasm is commendable - Channel it into some useful strength training that will benefit your running.

Good luck!

[Gograndad]

Thanks everyone. It's great to get all the good advice and encouragement. Yes, I know that better brains than mine were behind the programme, and I'm at (I'm sure) a very early and easy stage. I'll consider myself chastised and run 3 times a week and cycle the rest. That means I'm on week 2 run 3 on Sunday!! How time flies when you're having fun!

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

Please trust the advice given by the programme. It is tried and tested and every week, there are going to be increasing run times and resting is so frustrating but I needed it and graduated without injury because I did rest. Another type of exercise is ok on rest days - maybe cycling, swimming, walking but resting the muscles and joints used for running is vital I would say

[ench0 Graduate]

You can also run every other day not making the long break after the week. That way some of your weeks will have 3, others 4 runs. Trust your body but not when it tells you to run every day. 😆

[Gograndad in reply to ench0]

Ah, that sounds good!

[misswobble Graduate]

It's not a wasted day. The rest day is when your body does its best work. Leg building! ☺

Also, remember, slow,running builds legs

Have fun! ☺

[Gograndad]

I suppose another benefit of rest days being in the event that you sustain an injury which doesn't show up immediately, or goes unnoticed until it puts you in agony and out of action!

[secan Graduate]

I agree with your daughter; listen to your body. If you feel fine running every day, what's the problem? Just be careful to avoid overexertion and don't hesitate to rest when you feel you need it.

The C25K programme is great and it is also very convenient, because it is conservative enough to work for everybody while if you choose to "play by ear", you have to pay much more attention to the signals sent by your body and you it might be helpful to have at least some basic understanding of physiology... But the C25K programme is not the only way to get into running.