Running

nimgar84
nimgar84 Posts: 6 Member
edited 2:00AM in Health and Weight Loss
Is it ok to run everyday? I have a treadmill, had it since may 22nd and I've ran 5k on it everyday? Is this ok for my body? Legs kill but I assume they're building up strength? Any advice appreciated :)

Replies

  • nimgar84
    nimgar84 Posts: 6 Member
    Ok, thanks :)
  • Silentpadna
    Silentpadna Posts: 1,306 Member
    Any training program, whether cardio or strength training, works best with rest. Your body does its best work during recovery.

    Look at marathon running training programs. Almost all of them have varying distances and paces through a given week and all of them have rest days and at least 1 "very light" day.

    For building up strength, muscles build through a stress/recovery/adaptation cycle. You stress them by working them, give them recovery time (rest) so that they can adapt to the next bigger stress.

    Running doesn't "build" muscle, but it does improve endurance. To the extent that it helps strength, especially while eating in a deficit, it does so engaging existing neural fibers more than before. In a caloric deficit, it's virtually impossible to build new muscle tissue.

    TL;DR

    Rest is good. It's when the magic happens.
  • nimgar84
    nimgar84 Posts: 6 Member
    Thank you.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    technically, yes, you can run every day. we are streakers. but you have to listen to your body. if it's not recovering, you need a break. if you are new, rest days are vital. slowly build distance and pace.

    streaker: 1 mi or more a day run, but that 1 mile can be slow, run/walked, etc and super easy on recovery days.

    runners world is in the middle of a streak from memorial day to 4th of july. i did one from thanksgiving for 50 days till my body needed a break. some people do years.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Were you running before?

    How much?

    Jumping in from 0 to running 20 miles a week is a really bad idea.
    Back off, pick up slowly and ease into the mileage.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I run just about every day, but I worked up to it over the course of a few years, some days are really light/slow, and I'll take a rest day if I'm feeling fatigued/not well or if my legs are killing me. If you want to be a successful runner, you need to learn how to pay attention to pain. Your legs are sending you a message. You need to plan for recovery.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    This depends...this is something that should be built up. A seasoned runner can run everyday and would likely run variable distances with varying intensities...but their legs wouldn't be "killing". Your legs "killing" means you're doing too much too soon.

    My wife is an avid runner...she typically runs 5x per week and lifts once per week and has one rest day where she just goes walking or does some yoga. She could run everyday if she wanted to, but she does better overall with a full recovery day.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    stanmann571 wrote: »
    Were you running before?

    How much?

    Jumping in from 0 to running 20 miles a week is a really bad idea.
    Back off, pick up slowly and ease into the mileage.

    This^^^

    Start slow and build or you will get hurt. Your joints need time to get used to it. My knees hurt bad when I went from zero to 3 miles. So I slowed down and gradually added distance until I could do a half marathon without any pain. At my peak I would do 4.5 mi and lift weights on MWF, 7.5 mi Tue Thurs and a 10 mi on Sunday with Saturday being a rest day.
  • nimgar84
    nimgar84 Posts: 6 Member
    I did used to Run a lot, but not on a treadmill and not for as long. Thanks for advice, IL definitely have a few days of shorter runs and a rest day :)
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    I recommend every other day. Don't forget strength training, everyone needs both.
  • Running_and_Coffee
    Running_and_Coffee Posts: 811 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    I run just about every day, but I worked up to it over the course of a few years, some days are really light/slow, and I'll take a rest day if I'm feeling fatigued/not well or if my legs are killing me. If you want to be a successful runner, you need to learn how to pay attention to pain. Your legs are sending you a message. You need to plan for recovery.

    Was about to type this almost word for word. But also will add—go to a running store and make sure you are in the right shoes.
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