Is it a bad idea...

[Thinking-out-loud]

Hi all, first post for me!

Today i completed week 3 run 3 and i was actually very suprised that i found it easier than the runs prior. The gradual buildups have really helped but this run just felt too easy and not much of a workout like the runs before. At the end of the run session i just felt like it wasnt enough...😒 not to blow my own trumpet, but it wasn’t challenging enough. (I am sure this wont be the case in the coming weeks!😁)

Has anyone done the runs without a day rest in between? I am tempted to start week 4 tomorrow without a rest day, unsure if it will be a bad call or not?!

Look forward to any replies

[LottiePops]

Well done for completing this so far! And how great to feel so awesome too!

Personally I would say no to running on consecutive days. Quite a big no. One thing you have to do is trust the program. If you don't you are risking injury as I understand it.

I found this really hard to do as like you, I felt great some runs, like I could keep going or run the next day or that a run didn't feel like a work out....but having read lots of posts here, I've learned it is really not a good idea.

Stick with the program a little longer and you'll soon start to pick up on feeling more challenged. Perhaps go for a good walk or have a swim tomorrow instead? Good luck with your journey and so nice to 'meet' you on here

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to LottiePops]

Hi LottiePops,

Thank you so much for your reply. Just the advice i needed to hear. I think because i am motivated i don’t want to lose the buzz of wanting to run and want to squeeze in any run time i can but definitely need to trust the program and follow it accordingly. Last thing i want is an injury!

Thanks again for your advice and nice to meet you too.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

Got to agree. A day’s rest to allow muscles to mend and strengthen is one of the main building blocks of the plan. The testing times will come soon enough! The problem is that you only find out that you have over done it when something goes “ouch”’and then you are looking at a lay off. Boring advice but sensible I think. 😊 Glad it is going so well.

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to Beachcomber66]

Hi Beachcomber66,

Makes sense to me! If boring advice means im likely to avoid injury, il take it! 😊

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

What they said ! Those endorphins sure are addictive, but best to do something gentler on rest days. Swim, stroll in the countryside, take up drystone walling . . . And come back refreshed x

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to ButtercupKid]

Hi ButtercupKid,

Appreciate your reply🙂

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Thinking-out-loud]

You’re most welcome ! Happy running ! 😀

[Jell6 Graduate]

In short, yes it's a bad idea!

The days off are repair days, you can still do low impact activities though.

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to Jell6]

Thanks, will stick to walking for now😁

[Liz5K Graduate in reply to Thinking-out-loud]

Rest days are important. I found using the rest day to walk a new potential running route helped maintain motivation

[Pemberly Graduate in reply to Liz5K]

Thanks Liz5k, that's a great idea.

[Whatnog]

Hi!! Congratulations on your great W3R3, it is awesome to feel you still have fuel to keep going 💪

About rest days, the advice from the program is strongly against skipping them. It is the time for your body to recover and to build up new muscle fiber, etc.

You can read about it in this nice post from IannodaTruffe : healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Happy reading, happy resting, happy running!!

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to Whatnog]

Hi Whatnog,

Thanks for replying! I look forward to reading the post! Have a great evening.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

I'm no expert but reading all the posts on here the rest days are very important. Week 4 and 5 are more challenging 😊😊

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to Buddy34]

Im sure i will be eating my words soon enough 😁

[steviej99 Graduate]

I'm sure you've got the message!! Rest days are a must. Skipping them is a recipe for injury when you least expect it. Stick to the plan, keep it slow and steady. The cumulative workload increases week by week. You're doing great. Fatigue and the resulting injuries are the main reason people give up

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to steviej99]

Thanks Steviej99. Yes received message loud and clear! 😀

[Oldishrunner Graduate]

Congrats but Laura, or whoever is accompanying you, knows best.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

Do check out the guide to the plan linked to by Whatnog it is full of tips.

When you run, unlike non impact exercises, you create microtears in your muscles, which repair and strengthen on rest days. Without the rest from impact, there is no repair, no strengthening and consequently an increased injury risk. Non impact exercise on your rest days will aid blood flow to the damaged areas and improve repair. This will make you a better runner quicker than by running every day, without the risk of injury that new runners are prone to.

Enjoy your journey.

[Thinking-out-loud in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Very informative, thank you.

[jiggles7 Graduate]

Sounds like you had a great run today. It’s always better to finish with more in the tank. Well done completing week 3!!Cardinal rule of this forum is observe the rest days. You put yourself at risk of injury otherwise. The run will still be there waiting for you after your rest day. But yes you may have found what so many of us have before you...we really *want* to run on rest days...it’s addictive, strange but true.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Don't miss any rest days...sometimes what we feel..and what is actual are different. Rest days mean muscle tear recovery time...take them..always..

The build up is slow and steady for a reason.

Well done..but stick to the plan.😉

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Yeah... few people have done that... some got injured doing it, some got lucky and got through it, but would have been stronger at the end if they’d taken the rest days.

Bad call and huge gamble to do it.