Running without a rest day occasionally?

[geb6o8]

I'm currently repeating week 3 and wonder would it be ok to run for two nights in a row occasionally just to fit in with other commitments in my life? For instance i ran last night and can't run tomorrow so wonder if i can go out tonight again?

[Irishprincess Graduate]

A rest day is when the magic happens. When we run our muscles are damaged and tear. A rest day helps them heal and they grow stronger as a result ready for the next run. If you run two days in a row when you're a new runner you're not giving the muscles a chance to heal and your chances of injury are high.

Only you can decide what risks you are prepared to take but I'd say why bother? An injury could set you back weeks whereas there is no rush to get through the programme and presumably you're in this for the long haul.

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

Totally agree with IrishPrinces - if your goal is to get fit, this won’t happen if you injure yourself. So for us novices the rest day is a rule that really shouldn’t be broken. You will achieve more, and more quickly by following the program and having a running rest day. You can, of course, do other exercises on your rest day.

[geb6o8 Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner]

Thank you. I did a lot of walking anyway. Appreciate your comments.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

I agree with IrishPrincess too. There’s no rush to complete this plan... I’d rather take an extra day rest when I need to than try and rush it and increase the chance of an injury that could stop me for months.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

If you want to injure yourself "geb6o8" go ahead and run for two days in a row, better still run for three days in a row and then not run for three months because you got a injury, NO. NO. NO. you must keep ridgidly to the program, no running on consecutive days, non of that 'occasionally' keep to the program and you won't get injured.

[geb6o8 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

I was just asking for advice as a new runner not looking for sarcasm. Check out everyone else's reply. All said with encouragement. I'm disappointed by the way you have spoken to me.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to geb6o8]

I apologise for my comments to you Geb6o8, yes I should have been more considerate to you, so withdraw all my remarks from yesterday, once again sorry.

[geb6o8 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

The answer is in the guide to the plan healthunlocked.com/couchto5... along with many other topics.

[CrimsonMama]

In the earlier part of this program I did run without a rest day sometimes. Obviously it's not recommended so only you can decide if you want to risk it. I wouldn't dare not have the rest day now I am into the longer runs and I have noticed you run better after a break.

If your concern is exercise then going for a 30 mins brisk walk is actually just as good and only burns a little less calories. If your concern is not wanting to take longer doing the program... Believe me I am nearly on week nine and there is no rush to finish! Because then we no longer have C25K to look forward to! So waiting a day or two longer won't be a terrible thing!

[geb6o8 Graduate]

Thank you everybody. I did take your advice. Being an absolute beginner i really didn't understand the concept of the rest day so thank you for helping me on this. I didn't want to rush the programme. I just knew I wouldn't be able to run tonight which was my next time to run so I ran this morning instead having kept yesterday as a complete rest day other than doing my usual 16000 steps. I really want to do well and having done Week 4 Run 1 this morning am really proud of myself. I've lost a lot of weight so getting fit is my next challenge.

Thank you for your patience.