Rest Days

[Sarcoplasmic]

Does everyone take a rest time each time after a run? Would it be safe to ignore a rest day here or there?

[Sofabunny]

Personally I would say it's a bad idea. unless you are a super human being who does not sustain any injuries and are blessed with extreme suppleness of muscle and indestructible joints..if so go for it ..

[Hidden]

You can do low-impact stuff like swimming/cycling/yoga/weights but don't go running back-to-back.

[kwell39 Graduate]

Actually, I have been running 4-5 days a week and am just starting week 5. I listen to my body and have not have any issues. It is working for me.

[icklegui Graduate in reply to kwell39]

You might be interested to read this theconversation.com/taking-... , and perhaps the links in here: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[kwell39 Graduate in reply to icklegui]

Thank you for the information. I need to learn patience so will follow the three days a week from now on.

[icklegui Graduate in reply to kwell39]

Our bodies are fascinating and mysterious!

This programme has the potential to teach us so much - for me it was the opposite, the discipline to actually get out and follow a plan instead of putting it off!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to kwell39]

It works... no doubt about it. Unless you’re a fully conditioned runner the risk of injury raises dramatically as well. A torn muscle means months out of the game and a total restart with a possible weakness for life in that muscle. For me it’s not worth that risk.

We are not in a position to use recovery runs yet. Established runners are not doing a programme like this. They go long sometimes, short sometimes, slow most of the time. We probably only have one sustainable pace during this programme and beyond... for an established runner this is recovery run pace... recover pace for us is walking.

[MVBrown Graduate]

Take a rest day. I know how tempting it is not to do so, but try not to run. You can do other forms of exercises such as swimming and walking but no running.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Read the faqs healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Rest days are really important. Sure some people may ignore them but for long term well being it really is best to have them. 👍

You could certainly argue that it depends on starting fitness but to my mind the old saying "better safe than sorry!" springs to mind 😉

[icklegui Graduate]

It's said that when you've been running for about a year, you could run consecutive days.

Hidden damage is hidden until it's not ...

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Rest is possibly the wrong word for it... no running days are essential in keeping the muscle injury risk down.

[Equi-geek Graduate]

Sallenson calls them ‘repair’ days, not rest days, and they are great for cross-training without risking injury. I swim a mile on repair days 😉 and have only 1 day ‘off’ a week.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Equi-geek]

My rest and recover days are often very energetic... small runner in training for two days counts as a whole body workout... and my exercise regime on other days has paid dividends whilst I have been on the IC...I have a day off too..Thursday.. that is when I collapse in a small heal and just paint xx

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

My compete rest day depends when United are playing... so it’s today 🍺🍺🍺

Tomorrow is lots of water and evening workout... Wednesday is run day.

For any football fans out there, I fully expect United to have failed enough soon that I need another distraction on my rest day, suggestions welcome!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Just focus on how awesome you are..😉

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Ok... that won’t take long 😂😂😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

We think you are x

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

That’s fine... just don’t tell me often or my head won’t fit through the door and then I’ll have to get a treadmill delivered... and I do hate a treadmill... no, that’s not true... I hate all treadmills.

[Sarcoplasmic]

Thanks everyone for the information. I'm on week 6, run 3 but will do that run tomorrow as I've been away for two days. I guess I wanted to still keep to my deadline, meaning consecutive days of running. I guess it's better to take more rest days than over doing it?

[icklegui Graduate in reply to Sarcoplasmic]

absolutely, your last sentence is right - you won't lose fitness with a few extra rest/repair days either (up to two weeks, they say!). Keep going (safely)!

[Snuffy_T Graduate]

I've been swimming and cycling on some of my 'rest days' . It's good to mix it up . I really don't want to get injured as I have in the past. I'm also doing core strength exercise....I've really started to feel stronger. I'm on week 7 and feeling strong.