Is it OK to skip the day of rest once you reach week 6?

[Mortain123]

I have just completed week 5 and found the last run for 20 minutes really comfortable so wondered if I could start to run every day now and if anyone else has done that?

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Please read the guide to the programme for a fuller understanding

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Rest days are crucial and non negotiable.

New runners are not advised to run daily for at least the first year.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

No , in a word !Rest days are as important as running days of and definitely should not be missed, as explained in the guide to the program.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

We would advise a minimum of 6 months running after graduation (and some would advise more !) before thinking about running on consecutive days .

It takes many months for your body to get used to the stresses of running and not taking rest days is leaving yourself wide open to injury which could stop you f ok r days , weeks or even months .

It's simply not worth the risk

[Mortain123 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks so much ...my worry then is already on rest days I play netball ..but haven't had any injuries so far x

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Mortain123]

You are unlikely to get a warning before an overuse injury , they usually strike out of the blue .But remember , the only runs you are benefiting from are the runs you have recovered from , and that needs a day not running.

Cross training is ok but try to make it non impact training

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Running every day doesn’t actually suit many established runners… move towards that with caution in mind after you’ve done 6-12 months of running. Personally I got to 2 runs (sometimes 3) a day, but I cannot sustain my running without at least one non-running day a week.

20 minutes feeling really comfortable is great. Be very happy with that… what we all want to see is an awesome new runner graduating and going on to do amazing things in and outside of running… we don’t want to see you hurt though.

Happy running.

[nowster Graduate]

As others have said, on week 6 of C25K it's a definite no-no.

You may be feeling comfortable but your muscles are still developing.

More importantly, your tendons and ligaments take much longer to strengthen, and overdoing it now will lead to injury, as I know from experience. I spent much of September last year limping and visiting a physio -- my reward for being too cocky during the last few weeks of C25K.

A year on, I'm up to doing 5-6 runs per week, but I always have at least one rest day in there. Sometimes (due to circumstances out of my control) I have a whole week off, and often after that I actually come back stronger.

[Mortain123 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Thanks for the advice ...I'm.takunh everyone's advice and sticking with rest days ...better safe than sorry ...think I got a bit over excited after running 20 minutes and felt like I could do more 😅 just did some weights and had a swim today ...back on it tomorrow for week 6

[Teejay113 Graduate]

Rest days are very important. I just go for a walk would be my advice. Peace