Last week I went 8 whole days without running. I know from experience that my typical pattern for anything new goes... start, learn, get obsessed, get bored, give up! 🙄☹️
So that 8-day lapse set off all sorts of alarm bells - is this the start of my motivation tailing off, and the beginning of the end of my “running thing”?
Yesterday I was back out there and did my longest run to date, 14k. So am back on it... but am still concerned about how those lapses can creep up on you, and how best to prevent them.
So here’s the thought - why not do what our running goddess ju-ju does and “streak”, by simply running every day. Even if sometimes the run is a little one, just decide that from now on there are no decisions to make, you run every single day?
My version would not be quite so onerous, in that I play golf around 3 times a week, so my “streak” would be to run every single day when I am not golfing. That would still however mean I would quite often be running on consecutive days (second days typically being short runs of course), and now and again for 3/4 days in a row.😱
So what does the team think? As someone who only started C25K in April, is this a sensible plan to make sure I do “Keep On Running”, or is this a crazy idea destined to land me on the IC? 🤔
Written by
HoagyM
Half Marathon
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I am actually not a fan of running streaks per se - I like my rest days. But I don't see a problem with running on consecutive days if you have already been through a programme such as C25K and become a runner. Certainly you must be alert to any aches and pains as you go along, and rein things back as necessary. But I can see that you are something of an all-or-nothing person, and it may, as you say, be the best plan to keep you running! The mixture of running and golfing sounds like a pretty good exercise programme to me, so I say go for it!
My other problem with running streaks is that I worry about what happens if there is a point when the streak is unavoidably broken - can you get back on the horse afterwards? Ensure a strategy for this, and you'll be fine
Firstly, I think the occassionial hiatus from running is no bad thing. I purposely take a month of in November to recharge. Along with shorter breaks throughout the year.
What gets me back into it in December is a goal. And last year and this, that goal is a HM in March. The winter months become training rather than just running.
I have kept this up throughout the year by signing up for an event a couple of months ahead and look to my runs as training towards that goal. Its great to be able to structure a training plan.
Personally, the thought that I would have to just get up and do it every day would knock my motivation for six. THat said, if I set myself a goal of doing it everyday for a month, then perhaps...
I guess we are all different. Go with your gut and find what works for you.
Thanks and yes, I will definitely soon be signing up for a HM next year, to give me a goal to train towards over the winter. Having started all this in April of course, there are a whole range of new challenges on their way over the winter that I have not yet experienced!
There were times when I got up and went outside in the dark mornings with snow on the ground and questioned my own sanity. But that Thomas Jefferson quote kept me going:
“If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done.”
I love this advice! All sounds very sensible and still challenging.
I hear what you're saying - it's taken me a little while to get back on track after being on the IC. I have also thought about whether it would be a good idea to try a Run Streak, but much (much) less ambitious than our dazzling Leader, Ju-Ju! Maybe a 1/2K a couple of days, 5K a couple of days and one long run at the weekend.
However, I then read an article on how running will not strengthen your legs. It's the repair time while the micro-tears are healing that strengthens, so running every day might have the opposite impact if your legs are not getting time to heal and then you are technically "re-injuring" them regularly. So, that put that to bed.
I've decided instead to add in one more run in line with HM training, which also sees the pace coming right down during training, the latter I am still having trouble with. My last run was meant to be at a pace of 7:14, but came in around 6:45. So, still work to go. My long run this week is supposed to be at a pace of over 8 and I have literally no idea how I'm going to manage this. My comfortable pace is naturally around 7, but increases as my legs warm up. It slows again at 5K+ when they begin to tire.
My new focus is therefore to try and even out my pace and hit the numbers I am set. Not easy for a new runner on mixed terrain, but it's giving me something to focus on. It would help immensely if my Fitbit was more accurate so I could check my current pace regularly instead of relying on my 0.5K notifications, but it's way off in comparison to Strava, MapMyRun, Samsung Health and Runkeeper, which all agree on distance - oh yes, I've tried them all!
I'm not sure any of this helps your particular Quest, but just putting it out there!
The whole concept of trying to run slower is something I haven’t really done properly since the early weeks of C25K. But if I am going to run on consecutive days, that’s another approach that could be used to make a second/third run easier I guess.
I know that when I started in my long run yesterday I deliberately went slower (7m 30s / km) at the start and found it very easy, so was thinking “this must be my HM pace”. 14km later, very tired, I had naturally slowed to well over 8m - and so realised that 7m 30s is definitely NOT my HM pace! 🙄😊
This is the reason I started. It was easier to work out how to fit them in rather than argue in my head if i was going to run or not run!!... I did used to do small streaks in the week before I started on this mammoth task, and for me its just part of my day. I enjoy the lack of pressure and my focus is really for my mental health and being outside. I would say why not give it a try to boost your structure and perhaps start with lower mileage runs and see how you feel?
I think It only needs to be a short run, eg round the block. Your other running is additional. Nothing wrong with it if you want to do it It can be a lovely slow jog. I wouldn’t be pushing it at all 🙂
Yes Ian, just give it a short unambitious try for a week.
If you find it difficult to put your brake on, just run for a shorter time and distance.
I remember reading your Skye and Lakes posts while you were going through C25k.🤔
Do you play two rounds of golf on one day or one round on consequitive days.🤔
Did/do you go brisk walking in the mountains on consequitive days and for a full day.🤔
Listen to your body, try and beware of all relevant information and guidance rules.
Did you catch pinkaardvark’s post,only 10% marathon runners have the correct genes and much more on fatigue training.As a side, whites have even less chance of possessing these genes than other nationalities.
That’s a digression, but that post and all it contains is interesting as of course is the importance of repair days.
You are in charge, listen to your body and withdraw in a timely manner if you have to. Like everything you have to build slowly and keep tweaking until you find out there is no pleasure or reward.
Thanks again, all good input and food for thought. 😀
Yeah, I usually play just one round of golf a day, but now and again two. Often I play on consecutive days, sometimes 3 or 4 in a row.
Being retired I have the luxury of being able to pick and choose when I run. Hmm... is running on consecutive days more or less physically stressful than running first thing before playing golf, which I’ve done a few times?🤔
For me personally, I think the answer is going to be what most have said on here - give it a go! Take it very steady, short/slow runs, listen to your body, try it and see how it goes, and be prepared to stop if there any issues.
Take some comfort that if you ease off to begin with, with a good running form, that is kinder on your body than brisk walking in the mountains.Whether you run on consequitive days or not.
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