What’s more important?: Hello all 👋🏻 Just... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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What’s more important?

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate
24 Replies

Hello all 👋🏻

Just wondering. Is it more important to run 3 times in one week, or just have one rest day after each run?

I was due to do w5r1 today but I couldn’t get out due to work etc so it’s turned into another rest day for me.

This tends to happen each week for me that I’ll do run, rest, rest, run, rest, run, rest. Is that ok do you think??

Thank you

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Trying2run profile image
Trying2run
Graduate
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24 Replies

Totally fine. Some weeks I just had 1 rest day between each run. Sometimes it was 3 or 4. Life got in the way but the programme is so flexible. As long as you have minimum one rest day the rest is up to you.

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply to

Oh good. Thank you. Aiming for graduation at Xmas.

in reply toTrying2run

Good luck but don't be tempted to skip a rest day to make the target. A non running injury forced me to take a whole week off between W9r2 and w9r3 so I didn't manage to graduate by my birthday. Amazing that I set a target that risked making me feel my great achievement was a disappointment.

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply to

No. I won’t skip a rest. My knees hurt a little the day after so I always have that day off. Comes with the territory of being a bit older than I once was I guess.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toTrying2run

I graduated the week before Christmas 2015.. one of the best Christmas presents ever!

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply toOldfloss

Fantastic. Yes I hope to feel great too. Praying for no snow ha ha

Shelby1973 profile image
Shelby1973Graduate

My running schedule is roughly the same due to work , but I’m out there running which is better than nowt x

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply toShelby1973

Indeed. My bum is far less used to the sofa these days ha ha

Anthie profile image
AnthieGraduate

Hi! You do what you can and how you feel: you may notice that sometimes you run better when you run every other day. But like you, I had work obligations, so I made sure I ran 3 times within 7 or 8 days if I had too much work. So I ran Sunday, then Wednesday and then Friday or Sunday if really busy. After week 6, I felt a difference when I ran every other day: it felt easier. I had my first postgrad run last Sunday after running W9R3 on Wednesday, and it felt really hard for the last 10 mns.

Good luck!

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply toAnthie

Thank you. Good to know I’m not alone. And congrats to you

Anthie profile image
AnthieGraduate in reply toTrying2run

You're never alone ;-)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

I run Sunday, Tuesday and Friday :) You do this to suit your lifestyle :)

You have to be flexible. I tend to run Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday and swim in between, but it isn't set in stone. Forinstance, I was still tired from the Sunday run today, so I will go out tomorrow instead.

Elfe5 profile image
Elfe5Graduate

Absolutely - that is similar to me and I have just finished the 9 weeks doing it that way. 😀

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply toElfe5

Congrats

PetrinaB profile image
PetrinaBGraduate

The Mentors will advise, but I think the key is not to run two days in succession. Always have at least one recovery day.

martinhermanus profile image
martinhermanus

After 18 months of running I run for four days then three days break and my race on Saturday!

Geo-Lesley profile image
Geo-Lesley

It's fine. I usually have two rest days inbetween run two and three. Happy running :)

EleanorL profile image
EleanorLGraduate

I am no expert but would say don’t skip rest days, they are there for a reason. I graduated this year only running twice a week. It took a bit longer but I got there ! Best of luck x

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply toEleanorL

Congratulations and thank you for your reply.

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

I found as the runs got longer that I often needed a couple of days after each run - but I was very unfit. As everyone else has said, the programme is so flexible, as long as you keep going, you are well on track for your graduation at Christmas :)

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply toAnniemurph

Thanks x

Razouski profile image
Razouski

You can have extra rest days, and your week doesn't have to correspond with a chronological week. I used to have day 1 of the week on a Thursday when I was doing the programme. But as others have already said, extra rest days won't hurt you, but missing rest days can, so you sound like you're doing just fine.

Good luck for run 3 this week. You will really have a massive sense of achievement after this one. :-)

Trying2run profile image
Trying2runGraduate in reply toRazouski

Thanks I’mooking forward to seeing how well I cope with that. And the two 8 minutes in 2 days time 😂

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