Advice on running 2 miles every day

[achievefitness]

I had been doing couch to 5k in June and July and was on week 7 when I had to stop as I travelled abroad. But I would like to run every day 2 miles for the cancer research challenge in September. Please advice whether it’s advisable to run straight away after a gap of a month? Thanks in advance

[Instructor57 Graduate]

To run again after a month would be ok but you may take a bit of time to get back to where you were .However , do not run every day ! running every day would not be advised until you had a minimum of 6 months running after graduation at the least (some would say longer!)

It takes a surprisingly long time for your body to get used to the stresses of running and at this stage your risk of injury would be high , it's simply not worth the risk

[achievefitness Graduate]

Thank you very much. Good to know. Maybe I will do longer runs after couple of weeks or slowly and steadily will reach the target 60 miles

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

It is great to be inspired to do a run for charity, but attempting to do more than your body is conditioned to cope with is always very unwise for any runner.

When you run, the impact creates microtears in your muscles, which repair and strengthen on your rest days, not while running. Without rest, repair and strengthening are compromised and injury risk increased.

I don't know your pace, but to go from a 25 minute run alternate days to a two mile run every day, as a new runner, really would be asking for trouble and would likely be a very quick route to injury and no running at all. Experienced runners use the 10% rule, which states that you should not increase your weekly training load by more than 10% of your previous weekly total.

Please don't let your enthusiasm outstrip your physical ability. There will always be other charity runs that you can do when your body is conditioned. Demands on your body need to be gently progressive, as in the C25K plan.

As stated in the guide to the plan, you lose no significant condition in the first two weeks of non running. After that loss of condition is gradual.

All any of us can do after a lay off is to go out for a gentle run and see what we can comfortably manage, then use C25k or something similar to rebuild stamina and resistance to injury.

[Cmoi Graduate]

It's great that you want to run for Cancer Research.

However, they've picked 60 miles in September because it fits nicely as 2 miles a day for a 30 day month and so is easily packaged for promotional purposes. 60 miles could perfectly well be done in April, June or November, not just September.

There will be plenty of other challenges, and if you don't want to wait to help Cancer Research, find another way. It's not worth getting injured for a completely arbitrary number.

[achievefitness Graduate]

Thank You Everyone for the suggestions. It makes sense.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

That challenge does not say running, it just says 2 miles a day. You could alternate with walking, I have a friend who is dealing with her second round of breast cancer including chemo, surgery and rads, she's going to be walking all of it....