Rest a day after 3?

[Pie4me]

Should I rest a day after running 3 miles the day before?

I know you are suppose to let your muscles repair...but 3 miles
is not that far....do I still rest though?


Also-

Do I burn just as many calories running 3 miles as I would just
fast walking 3 miles? Is my metabolism enhanced more by the
running/versus walking? If I run will I burn MORE calories later
on than if I just walk? I have always been confused by this!

Thanks for any input-you exercise gurus!


Pie4me

[texwife&mom]

Re: Rest a day after 3?

There was an article recently in Runners World in regard to the run or walk issue. You will most likely burn more calories running, but there is a speed at which walking and running have about the same caloric expenditure. I will look it up or maybe someone (betty, jim, sarah) can help us out.

If you feel ok to run more today then go for it. You can always stop to walk if you are feeling it is too much.

Great job.

[ttdriver]

Re: Rest a day after 3?

I personally vote for a rest day between long runs of more than 3 miles, but it depends on your endurance and how hard you push yourself. If I take a leisurely pace, I can do back to back days, up to 4 in a row. If, however, I push hard, I take a rest day. And it varies from week to week as some weeks you feel stronger than others, etc.


As for the calorie/metabolism thing, the verdict is still out, but my opinion is, running speeds up the metabolism longer and you burn more calories if you can push it ... at least it seems to work that way for me. Although I certainly would never say that brisk walking won't help shed pounds and inches!

Betty

[toymom74]

Re: Rest a day after 3?

Definitely--if your body needs a rest day, take it. As far as # cals burned, I've always read that you burn around 100 cals/mi no matter how fast you go--so if you walk 3 mi, and it takes you 45 min., or if you run 3 mi and it takes you 30 min., you will have burned the same #, just in different amounts of time. However, I think running revs your metabolism higher, so you burn more in the hours afterward...

Just my 2 cents...

Belinda

[Iapetus999]

Re: Rest a day after 3?

You don't need a day off after 3 miles unless you're hurting.
Sometimes I don't take a day off after a long run...it's considered a "recovery run" because you're just running to stretch your legs essentially (it's a very easy/slow run)

I do take a day off after a race because it's a lot more stressful on my legs even if the distance isn't as far.