Does anybody do two runs back to back?

[mertie]

I'm up to week 6 run 2, which is fine so far. But if I'm honest I feel like it isn't too challenging so I've been doing each run twice in one session. Is it ok to do this? Will it improve my fitness/stamina? Has anybody else done this? I don't want to injure myself as I have a 5K at the end of October but I really enjoy pushing myself.

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

You can easily stretch a rubber band many times - but then one day it breaks!!!! - and afterwards cannot ever be repaired. Trouble is that nobody knows when that will happen.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Great way of thinking of it Bazza. 👍

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

No, keep to the plan, no 2 days in a row

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Noooo, don’t!! You might be fortunate, but equally (more likely) you’ll pick up an injury. Your running legs need to be built gradually. It takes a while. Please just stick to the programme and observe rest days too. 😀👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

No... never run on consecutive days.. please check the info in the linked post out.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

There is a lot you may do on rest days to get rid of that surplus energy. Non impact exercise for stamina and strength... all essential as you move through this plan.

Walking, swimming, climbing, yoga, Pilates.. cycling... etc, etc...

There is, quite literally, no mileage to be gained from consecutive running at this stage... maybe after a couple of years running... and even then has to be undertaken sensibly and with care,

It is a good way to reach the injury couch though As Bazza says hidden injury is just that...hidden.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

A carefully structured training plan, such as C25K, is designed to take you safely towards its stated aim of running for thirty minutes and if adhered to with minimal injury risk. Of course no programme can perfectly fit all comers, considering the vast range of ages and physical abilities and disabilities that participants bring to the feast. Some get injured while scrupulously following the plan, while others apparently get away with pushing beyond the proscribed runs.

The majority of runners on this forum who have been here for years can point to tales of woe that have surfaced from those who did too much too soon..............injury can stop you in your tracks for days, weeks or months.

My contention is that you will be a better runner by sticking to the plan (a bit of self discipline never does any harm), respecting rest days and doing plenty of aerobic, non impact, strength cross training will deliver the goods more effectively than running back to back or every day.

You might get away with it, but what is the rush and why take the risk. Take care. Slow and steady wins the day.

This may help healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[mrrun Graduate]

The only thing you will definitely improve, will be the chance of injury. Those things come without warning and the bad ones can stop you from running for months. Week 6 is still a great novelty to your system and l only started regular consecutive runs when l got into marathon training. This program has its perfect reasons and logic, don’t push it.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Yes, it will improve fitness a little faster. It will magnify the risk of torn muscles many times over. A torn muscle will allow you to return to your couch and watch the fitness go again. You can easily be ready for a 5k in October by following this plan. We are not athletes yet... but if you look at race plans for seasoned 5k athletes you will see that they don’t push themselves every run, in fact far from it... most of their runs are done at comfortable and easy paces. An athlete may become faster by pushing themselves more... but they know they will spend more time injured and trying to get back. If those guys don’t push all the time, it would be, frankly, ridiculous for us mere mortals to do it. If you want to develop as a runner, learn to stick to whatever plan you are following at the time, and to only take on a plan that suits your fitness and muscle conditioning.