Is it okay to run 4x wk?

[Alaiyo]

I am on week 5 now, and have followed the 3 runs per week with a day off in between diligently. But I get all anxious and squirrely on the weekends with 2 full days off. If I really want to, is it safe to run every other day? It means 4 times some weeks and 3 time on alternate weeks.

[Jenbie Graduate]

I have done, on occasion. I would have thought that as long as you leave a day in between runs, it should be fine. I didn't have any problems. But I am by no means an expert!

[TJFlute]

I have always done this from the beginning and haven't had any problems.

[Alaiyo Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

Good to know! Thank you

So, did you progress through the program a little faster? Or just do extra runs for each "week"?

[hollyO Graduate in reply to Alaiyo]

I am on week 4 and I have been doing this too. No problems so far, just means our week is a bit shorter! I havent repeated runs.

[DuncanS Graduate]

I just run every other day (mostly). It hasn't done any harm as far as I can tell and I suppose it must have saved a few days completing the programme.

[Alaiyo Graduate in reply to DuncanS]

Sounds good. Thanks, Duncan! I am not really in a hurry to finish the program, but if I feel inspired, all the better.

[jenniej Graduate]

I did it in weeks for the first four. I organised it so that after the first run of a week, usually the hardest, I had two days rest - my legs really needed it as I was suffering from shin splints. I was a true couch potato tho' so muscles were screaming at me. It was also good because I could organise the week around the runs.

Something clicked tho' at start of week 5 - legs got much better - and since then I think I've run after second day apart from once due to leg/foot pain. So my advice is go for it, but listen to your body.

[Alaiyo Graduate in reply to jenniej]

Great advice. I will definitely listen to my body. It tends to speak up loudly!

[emzylou Graduate]

I have done it. In the first 4 weeks I would just do an extra run each week. Now I am further on I haven't had the opportunity to do 4 runs but if I did, I would probably repeat the last run I done and then move on when I would normally do. At least then you are still taking 9 weeks, just putting in some extra here and there.

[SaCl Graduate]

Hmmm, is it terrible to admit out loud that I love the excuse to take two days off in a row and not have to get up early to run?! Need to borrow some of your running mojo from you!

[Alaiyo Graduate in reply to SaCl]

Not at all terrible. I am lucky that I don't have to get up early. That would probably change everything for me.