After graduating, do you still leave a rest day between runs?

[Tiger79]

I graduated last week and I'm wondering if I still have to leave a rest day between runs? I work shifts and sometimes it would be easily to do 2 consecutive das of running then 2 days rest before I can fit in the next run, is this ok??

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Tiger79, congratulations, ask for your graduate badge, you've earned it.

I'll be interested to hear what others say but I stick religiously to not running on two consecutive days even if that means several rest days in a row. I am not training for an event or any other kind of deadline which helps. There are risks to running and, having been disabled for all my adult life, I am keen to avoid them - hence rest days (and not running on roads, but I have the luxury of being able to avoid them) I regard them as 'repair and prepare days' rather than days when I am not making progress.

[TJFlute]

I always leave a rest day, and have enjoyed the knowledge that this is beneficial to recovery.

I am not sure what to do in the next 10 weeks though because I am preparing for a half marathon and I believe that I should be doing four runs a week (ie consecutive for two of the runs). I am undecided as yet. I know that Andy once said that running four times a week really improves ones fitness levels.

For you Tiger, I don't think it would harm to do two consecutive runs as long as they are not both 'long' runs. Running just has to fit in where it can!

[CaroleC Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

Hi TJ,

What half marathon are you running and what training programme are you using? I'm doing the Truro half (well, I have downloaded the form this morning and am considering it carefully lol)...it's not until September 16th and entries have to be in by the end of August so I have time to make up my mind. I'm currently working towards the distance but having done the Saltash one in May I know it's not going to be easy by any means!

CaroleC

[TJFlute in reply to CaroleC]

Hi Carole,

It's the Tonbridge Half in September and I'm 'doing' the Bupa half marathon training plan, although last week was week one I only did three runs and it should be four...will probably up it to four after this Sundays Race for life.

They say that they're addictive !

[CaroleC Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

"They" are right!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation Tiger79. I asked this same question not so very long ago as I found I would not be able to run on one of my planned run days. So what I did was run two days then took two days off. I have to say I was glad I took the two days rest too. I think the general advice is not to run long distances more than two day in a row.

However I did a run 5K yesterday and I also jogged down to my gym this morning with my rucksack on my back. It was only a 7 minute run so I'm still counting today as a rest day. Listen to your body, see how your legs feel too but don't over do it, it could cost you many weeks of rest due to injury. Enjoy

[CaroleC Graduate]

Very many congrats on your graduation Tiger.

Being a mature lady I have tried my very best to stick to the rest day rule, but quite often do other stuff on those days?

It depends on how fast you think you recover. Many people who run for competition/real athletes will run almost every day, some maybe 4/5 times a week, but they will have been running for a long time and will have built up to that level of fitness and recovery over that time. They won't be overweight, (not saying you are overweight, I'm just talking in terms of impact on knees, hips etc), they will do other training/cross training and they will generally be very fit people!

I graduated last year and still stick to three runs a week but do gym etc; my week goes something like this:

Monday - 45-60 mins gym (crosstrainer, cycle, rower - probably not the treadmill as I'll have done a long run on Sunday and need to preserve the knees)

Tues - rest

Wed - Speed/pace/interval run 4-5 miles usually morning before work

Thurs - gym, (crosstrainer, rower, weight machines - legs and arms)- this is with my young mentee who is trying to get fit; if it's hot (or dry!!) we might just go for a walk instead, usually about 2 - 3 miles.

Frid - trying to do a hill workout run each Friday morning before work atm 4 miles

Sat - rest

Sun - long run, currently up to just over 8 miles

I am also in training for a half marathon but I find four runs a week to be too much, however I am working on the aerobic fitness and the leg strength in the gym on the Mondays and the Thursdays.

CaroleC