W1R1

[Stevepat]

Just completed 1st run tonight! I actually enjoyed it and can’t wait to run again! Has anyone skipped a rest day and just cracked on with the next run?? I know the idea behind resting but feel I could go straight on to the next run!

[Rignold]

Brace yourself...

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Rignold]

ROFL! ROFL! ROFL! (rignold - not stevepat )

stevepat - less than ten percent finish the programme on time/with distance. So - what's the point of risking injury ?

This programme works. I'm not saying everyone who wants to run needs it, but those of us who wash up on these shores....well, in nearly two years I honestly can think of only one poster who seemed to be a 'natural born runner' but far too many who rushed things and genuinely regretted it.

Best of luck whatever you decide. All I can say to you is - I would not skip a rest day for anything.

Wishing you many happy miles in your future.

[Stevepat in reply to Irish-John]

Fair do’s gents, thanks for the replies!

[Keels_x Graduate in reply to Stevepat]

Well done on your first run, I’m halfway through week 5.

I absolutely got the bug from run 1 too and considered skipping rest days, at one point I wanted to do the next run straight after a previous! But I didn’t, I’m injury free and lovin the programme!

Good luck with your journey, sadly my pooch is an over weight British bulldog who refuses to jog with me x

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Stevepat]

I've done the programme from scratch twice Sp. I was so eager to graduate the programme the first time I did it as quickly as possible. A few weeks after graduation I regretted that.

I dislocated my hip a while back and was on the IC for three months, did the whole programme again when I was cleared by the Docs. this time I took it genuinely 'slow and steady' and focused on my form. pace and what my body actually does when I run.

It was a bit frustrating the first few weeks - I too wanted to run for longer and further, and I could have after a few weeks - but previous experience taught me that without a solid foundation, after graduation you will tend to flounder a lot when going for the 10K or faster 5K or whatever new goal you set

Unless just graduating is the motive, you really will benefit from taking the journey to it on as solid a basis as possible. Deciding if you have completed a day satisfactorily is somewhat a judgement call sometimes, and first time around I just wanted to progress - second time around I made sure I did every stage 'well' instead of 'fast' and enjoyed it all a lot more and now really feel the benefit as I start pursuing the 10K again

[wyersmith Graduate]

I know what you mean. I get itchy feet on some rest days too and just want to crack on and run some more. But it’s not a good idea. Much better to save that feeling for when you really need it, like halfway through the runs in wk4...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Only if they were really silly Which of course..you are not...

I feel like I could climb Everest... however.....

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

... and of course rest days are just made for other exercise

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You are free to do exactly as you wish, but the prevailing sentiment in the running world is that it is unwise for new runners to run every day. Of course we all bring different levels of fitness to Run 1 of the programme and of course it can be adapted, but slow and steady progress is far less likely to result in injury.

When I did the programme five years ago, I found Week 1 very easy and was tempted to jump ahead, but decided that those who devised the plan knew more about running than me and also that waiting 9 weeks, or 8 if you run every other day, was not actually very long.

What I appreciate more now is that cross training on your rest days, doing non impact exercise, will probably make you a better runner in nine weeks, than trying to run every day. Building a runner's body is far more than just doing the leg work.

The impact of running creates micro tears in your muscles which repair and strengthen on your rest days. No rest, no repair, no strengthening therefore increased injury risk.

As a mentor, whose role is to try to guide people safely through the plan, I would never do other than recommend that you follow the plan, which involves taking rest days.

There is further information in the guide to the plan healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

What's the rush?

[GM32]

Stick to the plan and the rest days you will feel the benefit when the runs get longer. Try some squats or similar in-between.Good luck

[Berksrover Graduate]

Hi, I did the same in the first few weeks, just did W6R1 last night and do take my rest days now I find this allows me to push myself a bit harder when I do run, it's a marathon(sort of) not a sprint

[Duracellqueen Graduate]

I would recommend sticking to the plan to maximise your progress. I needed the rest day , sometimes more than one! 😀

[kdw712]

I recently did W1R1 and then R2 the day after. Wasn't planning to. R3 I left for another day. I would imagine as posted above the further into the program you get the rest days are needed as time running increases. But if the legs feel good...

[spscollins]

If you've not run before , I won't skip the rest day. You'll feel your calf hurting. Slow and easy.

[Markboswell]

Hello, i am about to start week 7. Because of the shifts i work, i often run 3/4 days consecutively then miss a couple. No great ill effects from doing so. Enjoy the programme.

[Mariebridget66]

I did my first run on Tues, felt euphoric !

Stayed by the rules and rested yday.

I got up at 6am this morning and was out doing my 2nd run by 6.30 .

Got ta the corner of our road and there stood my wonderful husband waving me home .

Feel so proud , I would stick by the book if I was you. It’s better to finish the programme than not .

Happy running 😃

[Ificandoit Graduate in reply to Mariebridget66]

Brilliant - and well done him. Knowing my family supported me in my mad running quest kept me going on my bleugh days!

[Janrun]

I'v been tempted to move in without resting too. I'm week 5 and still haven't been brave enough. Will be interesting to see what others, have to say about no rest day.

[SuMorr73]

Hi, I skipped a rest day few weeks back to get runs in around work shifts but wouldn't do it again, legs were aching and felt like lead though prior to run I felt good.

[Fiddleness]

I was as keen as you are...and tore my Achilles tendon. Nearly two years on I am still not fully recovered, and find the rest days refreshing. Take it easy....