'Nother question for runners

[Evermind]

I just started Couch to 5K (love it!) I find I wake up wanting to run every day. I know, however, that I'm supposed to have rest days.

how often? And can I do walks on those days?

[ttdriver]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

As you increase your miles, you need more rest days. I'd say once you complete the program and are running 3+ miles at a time, then a day of rest between runs is reasonable. Rest=rest. No walks either ... sorry ! You need to give your muscles time to repair themselves from the stress of the pounding...

Trust me, rest is your friend. Consider your rest days "strengthening days", because that is, in fact, what they are.

Betty

[Evermind]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

Ok, so for beginning runners, what do you recommend? Two days of running, one day of rest? Three running, one of rest?

[ttdriver]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

How far are you currently running at a time? I would say, its reasonable in the beginning to run 2 days, then take a rest day. Again, as your mileage builds, you will need to rest more in between. Also, NEVER increase your mileage more than 10% at a time. So if you're running 15 miles a week, you could safely add 1.5 miles without risking injury.

In my case, I run 6+ miles on Mon, Wed, Thurs & Saturday...which is 25+ miles a week. That is my "maintenance schedule". If I train for an event (such as a marathon) I will follow a training program like Jeff Galloway or John Bingham's plan.

Betty

[BigRunner]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

I'm marathon training at the moment. Even now, I never run more than 5 days a week and never more than 3 days in a row.

Normally, I run T,W,TH and S,S.

The rest days are well deserved time off.

RichF

[Evermind]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

As I said, I just started couch to 5 k. I jog/walk 1 mile. Yesterday was a rest day. I really needed it - I was very heavy and draggy the day before, and yesterday I was sleepy all day. (second week of induction, so not the flu)

Maybe 3 days on, 1 day off for now?

[Lyssie]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

Why not one day on, one day off? There's no reason to be pushing yourself into doing 3 days of running in a row.

[Evermind]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

Because I wake up in the a.m. DYING to go for a run! And I'm already refusing to indulge the craving to wake up and have pancakes, lol. Can't I indulge myself in this way? Or is that unhealthy?

[Lyssie]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

I think it's not good to be forcing your body into something that makes you feel draggy and sleepy for 2 days. Why wouldn't you do some cross training or something on the days you're not running? If your body is telling you not to do something at the pace that your mind is telling you to, it's kind of better to listen to your body about it. I'm not saying don't workout, just not the same way.

[Evermind]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

Let me clarify, first: On Monday, I was draggy and heavy JUST when I was running (it was day 4) and I realized I should have just rested. The rest of my day I was full of energy. Yesterday it was an all-day thing and I didn't exercise. I assume it was because the previous day I should have rested.

And TT driver said no walking or anything on my rest day! So I was assuming I can't cross-train?

Now I'm SOOO confused!

[Lyssie]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

If you're looking for someone to tell you exactly what you want to hear, then I'm sorry that's not me. TTDriver gave you an option on how she trains, BigRunner gave you how he trains, I gave you how I train.

You're doing 1 mile, not a 5k, not a marathon. I believe ttdriver said that when you're running 3 miles, you need the rest day with no walking, etc. You're not currently doing that. BigRunner said he's training for a marathon, he wouldn't be doing 1 mile runs, he would be preparing to push his body for something mad intense. I train to get better times (fix my endurance from smoking), and be rested to run 5ks on weekends, but I also exercise to lose weight in general, not just to run.

Couch to 5k gives you a plan to follow, if I remember correctly, that says what you do on what day. If you're not following it, then you're not following it. You could always come up with your own way of training that's what you want to do and not what any of us do.

You asked for advice, I was giving it. I'm sorry that it's not what you wanted to hear, or what someone else said.

[Evermind]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

Oh, heavens, I'm sorry if I came across as being kvetchy! I understand perfectly what everyone was telling me and I was just interested in as many opinions as I could.

Couch to 5k tells you sort of what to do each day, but not really. I'm interested in the long term ideas about how often to run.

Thanks anyway. No need to be defensive or patronizing.

[ttdriver]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

I guess my best advice would be to really listen to your body.....when you're tired, draggy, burned out, whatever you call it .. its time to rest. When your miles build .. you simply MUST repair the damage done to the muscle fibers. Plus, believe it or not, it takes a minimum of 24 hours for the cushioning in your running shoes to recover too!! (HONEST!)

There's definitely no harm in resting too much, but trust me, there's serious risk of injury from lack of rest. At this point in my life (age 51), I am NOT going to risk injury.

Betty

[Grant]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

side question, on your rest days what do you think about doing something that uses other muscles? Doing weight training on your upper body for example?

[ttdriver]

Re: 'Nother question for runners

side question, on your rest days what do you think about doing something that uses other muscles? Doing weight training on your upper body for example?

Definitely do it! Runners need a strong CORE .. I highly recommend investing in an exercise ball and using it to strengthen the lower back, the upper and lower abs, etc. I also recommend the Bowflex SelectTech weights .. they rock!

Betty