Maybe the reason I’m slowing down...

[ArthurJG]

is I need a rest? I just went back through my Strava and that’s eight C25k runs on alternate days or to put it another way, it’s three weeks since I took two consecutive rest days. In that time Ive gone from around 6’30” per km to more like 7’30”. Probably I needed to slow down a bit anyway but not that much. And I’ve been feeling my knees a bit the day after each run then thinking on the second day it’s improved enough to run. I think I may take two rest days, possibly even three before my next run and see if that helps.

[MelsieJay Graduate]

I found two rest days helped plus support from a brill physio for knees and hip flexors. I then took 6 days off and started running again 3 days ago. I have done 2 and they went so much better. Have a little rest x

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to MelsieJay]

Thanks, that’s helpful, and so kind of you to trouble to reply to my little niggle considering what you’ve just posted elsewhere.

[Goforitmama Graduate]

Sounds like a good plan. I run 3 times a week, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. That means 2 rest days together Friday and Saturday. I usually walk on Fridays and have one sit on my bum day per week (or you can call it complete rest if you want to be technical!).

On reading people's posts I often see people say about how well they run after an extended break of about a week.

I looked back through my records and I was definitely getting faster each run.

Take care, try a few rest days, your body will thank you for it.

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to Goforitmama]

Thanks that makes perfect sense. Early on I often had three days or more between runs just because I was busy. I’m trying not to put pressure on myself to do too many longer runs on holiday when the weather will be much hotter than here and I’ll only be in each place a few days so not a lot of time to find good places to run. So I suppose I was thinking I’d get plenty rest in Italy but I think I need a few days off now and it will still only leave me three runs to do over there.

[theoldfellow]

Some of us would kill for 6'30" /km.... Mine are usually about 8/km.

I always take a 2 day rest-from-running every week, it isn't a complete bum-on-seat rest 'cos I work on Sundays. But I do find that Monday is usually better pace than Friday.

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to theoldfellow]

Yes 6’30” felt natural but I would get out of breath quicker and I tended to last better if I managed to slow it to 7’. However this is different: the slower pace (and also less consistent) doesn’t feel easier. I didn’t realise I’d gone three weeks without a two day rest and I think my knees need it

[LoungeLizaard Graduate]

Hi - firstly well done on getting this far! That’s an achievement on its own.

To echo some of the other posts, I would recommend an extended break. I’ve had to have two breaks - 1 because I caught the mother of all colds, but I also had an 8 or 9 day break just because i was simply to busy. As guilty as I felt at the time, my runs and times were so much better / quicker when I got back to it.

Sometimes your body just needs to rest and not be put through the new regime constantly!

Good luck!

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to LoungeLizaard]

I’m thinking I’ll drop Monday run Wednesday and then replace both Friday and Sunday with a park run on Saturday. So a three day break followed by a two day one. That’ll just leave Week 9 to do on holiday.