Rest day or not???

[Blondebeginner]

I’m worried that I might not be ready for my goal of 5k on 26 January. Is it necessary to have a rest day in alternate days or could I run two consecutive days? I want to run more! Thanks everyone!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

When you run, the impact creates microtears in your muscles which repair and strengthen on your rest days, not while running. With no rest you have no repair, no strengthening and so increased susceptibility to injury.

If you want to be the best runner that you can be, then doing non impact aerobic and strength exercises on your rest days will make you a stronger runner quicker than by running every day.

Take care.

[Blondebeginner in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Swimming?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Blondebeginner]

Any non impact exercise will be beneficial, as it increases blood flow improving repair, without creating new damage.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Noooooo! No running on rest days... yoga, Pilates, walking, cycling, swimming, low impact full body impact workouts, high impact upper body... anything but running!

[Blondebeginner in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Got it! X

[Hidden in reply to Blondebeginner]

But it is okay to just rest sometimes 🤣

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yes you can have 2 rest days consecutively if you want

[steviej99 Graduate]

As they say, rest days are compulsory not optional. Injury is a strong possibility and the programme is designed to avoid it as far as possible. You can walk run the 5k if your not ready to run all the way can't you Enjoy your running!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You've had the answers... no... don't miss a rest day... do the non impact work to build up stamina and strength.. rest too on some of the days,, and Graduate, safely ready to start the next lap of the running journey

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

If your schedule wrecks your morale then dump your schedule x