Aspirations above my age-band

[Jane-M]

I am enjoying the 5x50 so much, though I did have a few doubts about exercising every day as I have had dinned into me that you have "rest days" between runs which has always meant actually sitting down for me

Then I found out that my niece runs twice a day every day!! As she's half my age I decided that once a day every day was fine for me - though I don't think it will ever become running every day

Although my legs feel permanently a little tired over the past 8 days I haven't had any stiffness or soreness - today is a a trail run W7R1. Wish me luck, the sun is shining just now but there is still ice on the pond. Roll on spring.

[Jane-M]

Wow - I've just noticed I've done 9 days of 5x50 not 8 - hurrah for that.

[Landesman Graduate]

I think the advice is that if you exercise one set of muscles hard then you should allow them a day to repair and strengthen. So exercising different muscles types every other day shouldn't be a problem (though I'm no expert).

That's certainly what I am doing, and feeling good for doing it too.

Good luck on the trail run. Much more interesting than tarmac, but needs more stamina. Good for discovering muscles in places you never knew existed.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

I don't want to put a dampener on your running high but I will say be very careful running every day for even 10 in a row will be hard on your leg muscles. If you find its becoming too much try doing a walk instead it will at least give some muscles a bit of a rest.

I think all of you doing 5 x 50 are wonderful and if I had not been injured I would have joined you - next year hopefully. Good luck each and everyone.

[Jane-M]

Don't worry Oldgirl - I don't think I'll ever be able to run every day! I intersperse with swimming, walking and fitness circuits. But that was the mental barrier I had to break, just getting my head round doing some exercise on running "rest days". My overall aim isn't actually running - I'm training for a high altitude trek in July - but running is a big part of the training and I do enjoy it.

[SBG356 Graduate]

It's great isnt it Jane?! I knew it was ok to do other forms of exercise on non-running days and is in fact encouraged but I had gradually trailed off doing any so this was the wake-up call my other muscles needed Think they are complaining though of being woken from their slumber......!

Enjoy your trail run; sounds lovely.

Sue

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to SBG356]

I've started doing exercises to "top up" the non-running (alternate) days when I find it hard to find the time to put in a 5k walk. Anyhow, I've started with the Strength and Flex plan with good old Laura getting me to work my upper body and, yes, it reaches the parts of me that running doesn't reach! I want to have a go at Wii exercises once I'm through with Laura. Like you, I wasn't doing anything on non-running days. This is just waht my body needed! Delia

[gdeann Graduate]

Awesome Jane! We tried running a 5K the first part of the challenge week and quickly learned our old bodies can't handle it! Gayle

[greenlegs Graduate]

I think I'll quite likely end up running a bit less overall, but doing more exercise altogether. But it's still early days! It's a very interesting experiment though, isn't it!