I'm on Week 7!!!! And how important is Rest Day?

[Sodaonthesofa]

Hi guys!!

I'm on Week 7 and I'm so proud of myself. I even did my last run alone. My husband wasn't riding his bike next to me like he usually does. He serves as a bit of a distraction from the pain in my legs, so the fast that I could do it without him made me feel good. I do think I need to invest in an Ipod. I can't listen to music while I have Pokémon Go on in the background of my phone.

So, I'm starting Week 7 today with Run 1, but I'm a little concerned about the rest days. Now that hunting season is here, my work schedule is changing. I have to work 3 to 5 days in a row, from 6 am to midnight. I know the running is only 30 minutes, but by the time I get home, eat, check for ticks, go run, shower and go to bed, I'm gonna get less than 5 hours sleep. And my job is physically demanding, so I need my rest.

I was wondering if it would be ok to do 2 runs back to back? Like do W7R1 today, W7R2 tomorrow, take a break and then do Run 3 on Thursday? I'm working Friday-Monday, so I don't think I'll have time to do the run after Thursday. Then I plan to start week 8 next Tuesday.

Or would doing runs back to back be bad for my physical well being? I feel fine doing one day on, one day off. My calves do twitch quite a bit since I started running, but I've figured that's from finally using them instead of sitting on the couch.

Here goes Week 7!

[tortoisegirl Graduate]

Well done on reaching week 7! The rest days are important to give your muscles time to recover and avoid injury. It may be that you need to take the programme a bit slower during the season - it does sound full on! It won't matter if you have an extra rest day or two. Lots of people on here took well over nine weeks to get to thirty minutes. Good luck!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Better to take a bit longer to finish the plan than risk injury, in my opinion. Your question is a very common one and we all tend to give the same answer, simply because C25k is designed to keep injury risk minimal and the gains made by going against the advice of Laura are minimal.

You might get away with it, but may not. Is it really worth the risk?

[Sodaonthesofa in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I don't mind taking longer to finish the program, I'm just worried if I skip an extra day my body will forget what it's done and I won't be able to finish the run.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Sodaonthesofa]

You will not lose any condition with an extra day or two between runs. You may find the extra time off improves your performance. I ran for the first time in two months recently and while I was slow (deliberately) and I probably could not have run 15k (it would have been unwise to try!!) but my body let me get on with it.

Doing too much too soon is a recurring theme on this forum, so better to err on the cautious side.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Sodaonthesofa]

It won't. It's good to get into a routine, a rhythm for running and set days a week or every other day do that really well... but it has to work with your life and if that means gaps of 3-5 days between runs, then so be it... it will still work for you. In fact many of us have been quite shocked at how well we do after an enforced break.

[Millsie-J Graduate]

I would say slow down and fit the runs around your schedule, which sounds very full on! You are doing great, just get out when it suits! Well done on running without your husband. Can you not download music on to your phone rather than buying an iPod?

[Sodaonthesofa in reply to Millsie-J]

I don't know if downloading will work. I haven't tried. I just know that if you turn off the sound effects on the Pokémon Go App, no other apps will play sound. So apps like Pandora or Spotify are out.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Sodaonthesofa]

How about using the podcast presentation of C25K instead?

[Sodaonthesofa in reply to GoogleMe]

oh, I'll try that. Thanks.

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Sodaonthesofa]

I would suggest you turn off the pokemon app. Then turn on the music and/or running app.

[Sodaonthesofa in reply to Millsie-J]

Oh I wish I could. My husband and I are competing. I'm winning and this running is helping me stay ahead.

[RuNananana Graduate]

I think it moreson depends on your age - I read recently that Masters Runners (ie. runners 40+) must absolutely take a rest day between in order for their muscles to repair/recover because after 40, it's a slower process. I can't imagine Laura would recommend it though if it wasn't best for all.

You're working 18 hour days?? yikes!! Is there any way you could do your run on your lunch hour?

[Sodaonthesofa in reply to RuNananana]

Yea, the hours are ridiculously long, but I do like the overtime. And we don't really have a lunch hour during hunting season. It's more like we eat when there aren't any animals to inspect. And I really don't feel comfortable running out in the brush. Besides ticks, we have rattlesnakes. I doubt my running shoes would block them.

[RuNananana Graduate in reply to Sodaonthesofa]

eeks!!! Well - I think you've got some better advice than I had - you won't suffer for having 2 days break - and really - who cares how long it takes you to finish? Me, the 9 week program was 16 weeks long!

[Davoda Graduate]

I don't think you'll regret the extra rest day, but you may well regret not having it! 😏

[Irish-John Graduate]

Honestly - I would not skip a rest day for anything. I've seen so many tales of woe about injuries here over just the six months I've been around nothing would induce me to risk it.

On the other hand - there was a spell when I could not run for four or five days and I did fine when I did get out...

It's very frustrating to miss a run, but if you injure yourself you could miss a bundle of them....

[Flossie22 Graduate]

I really think you should keep your rest days in there. You won't forget how to run or lose fitness over a few days. Better to take it slow and steady than risk injury. Well done and enjoy your running when you can. 👏🏻👏🏻😀😀🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻