Am i doing it wrong?

[igottagetthruthis]

So completed w2r1 yesterday and can barely walk today my calf muscles are aching alot. So my question is am i taking my rest days properly i go for my run every over day which means as my hubby pointed out, sometimes i am doing 4 days a week. Should i just stick to 3 set days a week?? Any advice please.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Try if possible to keep to the same THREE set days a week, that way at least over the week you have two days of not running, in those days you can do other exercises including a walk. Perhaps another reason for you not being able to barely walk and having very sore calf muscles is that you are running too fast or not drinking enough water, especially on your non running days, so drink plenty of water the day before you run, keep to the same days, and don't run just as fast as you have been, onwards and upwards to run 2 of week 2 but only after a few extra days off until your calf muscles are completely better.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Good hydration is important every day..😊

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Indeed it is Oldfloss, hydration every day is very important.

This morning at 9 o'clock as part of my reruns I will rerun run 1 of week 9, this will be the first time since last year that I will have ran for 30 minutes, quite confident that it will go OK.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Just super..well done you..have a lovely run xx

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi Floss, I have just come back from my rerun of run 2 of week 9, yes indeed it was a lovely run, it's starting to get warm so I took the whole 30 minutes slow and steady, no pace timer with me but probably around 40 minutes 5K pace, have a lovely day. 😊. 🏃👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Just perfect!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

👍

[Prettyrandom Graduate]

Hi - I did three runs a week with a rest day in between each run but I also found it very helpful to take an extra rest day off between weeks! So run🏃‍♀️rest- run🏃‍♀️ -rest- run🏃‍♀️ -rest - rest. This really helped settle those initial niggles.

My biggest problem was explaining to my very keen runner husband that I was absolutely not going to run every day (and certainly not with him)!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You do what is right for you...just you....our advice is at least one rest day..but many folk take more..

I run for example....Sunday.. Tuesday and Friday .If your days have to change...then no worries at all..but always at least one rest day...A lot of folk run on Monday Wednesday..Friday..and have the weekend off. But some folk not.

Check out our FAQ post for Newbies..lots of great advice there. There is a link too about post run stretches..which will really help...

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Well done for starting this! Do this your way...with us helping!!

[Nasthaa_]

I think if this is your first time running, and you're only on week 2, stick to the 3 runs a week. Running puts huge pressure on your body, listen to it if you're too sore. If you feel like you want to be doing more, the NHS also has their Strength and Flex programme which you can combine with Couch to 5K. nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/s...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I assume you have read and are following the advice in the guide to the plan on minimising impact, pacing, stretching after every run, hydration and rest days healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

If you are doing all that, then extra rest days between runs may be the solution.