To Break or Not to Break? That is the question (I can't ans

Wisks

Good morning everyone. Since I value all of your opinions I wanted to solicit some desperately needed advice.

I am seriously considering taking a break from running, I think I need one badly. Right now I have tired legs, sore knees (particularly my right knee) and I think I am suffering from general runners fatigue. I've checked my running log and the past three four months I've ran 113, 121, 132 and 121 miles and 55 miles in December thus far which I know for some of you isn't that much but it's probably the furthest I've ran in my life. It's been great getting faster, going further and getting healthier but I've been running as my only form of exercise since February of this year and I think I am feeling it now.

I am extremely hesitant to take a break. I've read in so books and magazines how easy it is lose your endurance base that you've built up over a long period of time very quickly. Also, I am apprehensive since my running burns so many calories any kind of break will cause me to gain back some of the weight I've lost over the past year. And lastly I hesitant because, since this has happened multiple times in my life, any kind of break, even short might cause me to extend the break longer and longer and before I know it I haven't ran in 4 months. I've done my last race for the year and I don't have another one until Jan 7th (10K) and Jan 21st (13.1M) so I want to be ready for those.

If I was to take a break, a rest, should I continue to exercise vigorously but just different activities (bike, elliptical, xtrain, weights)? Should I exercise with minimal stress? Should I exercise at all? And how long? I was thinking a week might be good. Particularly between xmas and new years.

I think in addition to suffering from runner's fatigue but also runner's addiction. My life has improved so much since I began running again I imagine not running would bring me right back down and regress to where I began.

I appreciate any suggestions or sharing of experience you might share.

Aaron

bstamps12

I say take the next 3 weeks to crosstrain. Maybe run once a week to keep your body used to that for those races, but only run once per week until the first of the year. It is easy to stretch your break too far but I think that by scheduling (and actually registering and paying for) those races in January, you'll force yourself out of the break on Jan. 1.

I got this general runner's fatigue after 2 months of running last year! haha! I decided to start doing triathlons so that on days I didn't feel like running, I could bike or swim with a legititmate, specific purpose behind it.

Is it really running that has made your life improve? Or just being healthy and fit? If it's running, then that's a deeper issue for you to decide for yourself. If your life has improved because you are healthier, then doing weights, elliptical, biking, etc. will not make you regress in that sense.

You can definitely keep your fitness up with some intense elliptical and bike, plus add to your strength with weights.

skemery

I'm also planning on breaking after the first of the year, not that I won't be running occasionally, but for the past 6 months every week I've been pushing myself to go further than the week before. It's getting a little bit ridiculous. I don't have another paid for race until March at this point (just a 5k) and not another half until May, so I'm hopeful I won't fall off the wagon completely. Between the holidays and tapering these next few weeks I'm sure I will gain weight, hopefully I can keep it on the lower end. Good luck to you!

MissFit0101

Rather than breaking, how about just reducing the number of days/mileage you run and cross train instead?

JoyousRen

I agree with some of the other responders. Don't take a complete break, just cut back on your running and add in crosstraining like biking or swimming. It will help keep your fitness up but give you a much needed break. You could even try switching out longer runs for speed work like intervals or tempo runs with crosstraining between.

bprague

I hear that it's pretty common for runners to take a week off from running every four weeks or so. I think just taking a full week off from running might be a cure

hkulbacki

I agree with some of the other responders. Don't take a complete break, just cut back on your running and add in crosstraining like biking or swimming. It will help keep your fitness up but give you a much needed break. You could even try switching out longer runs for speed work like intervals or tempo runs with crosstraining between.

I agree, switch up your routine with some cross training and throw in some easy runs. Look for some upcoming races though and sign up for one now that requires you to get back into your running routine within a few weeks. Then schedule your new 'start' date and stick to it.

bonjour24

i think that you can do whatever you think fits right for you right now, but beware! after 6 months of alot of training, i decided to just cut down the long runs and stick with the short 5k runs for a month- for me this was not a good decision and i won't be doing it again. i think if you need a few days off, just take them. or switch things up with the elliptical or the bike, or whatever. but don't stop. after those 4 weeks of 5km runs and about 10 days off (illness related) i'm really struggling to get back to it and running is hard again.
but just taking a week off completely should be good for you- give your muscles a good length of time to recover. maybe you should wait a week and time it well, then have your first 'back to it' run on 1st jan (or 2nd, depending on how bad the hangover is :-))

summertime_girl

I don't think a week will do anything to you at all. I've had to do it a few times for various reasons, and that first run after a break feels great! No pain, high endurance, etc.

That said, no other exercises I've tried compare to running. Biking, elliptical, cardio classes, etc., none come close to the calorie burn I get when I run. That's not to say I don't cross train, but since I've added in cross training, my weight loss has slowed drastically.