Should you run 6 times a week?

suzibanshee
suzibanshee Posts: 62 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
For the past couple of months I've been running/walking...mostly, I was trying to increase my running time and decrease the amount of time that I'm walking. I'm up to where I can run for 24 minutes straight.

Thing is, I find that I can run for longer when I have a rest day in-between....yet I'm trying to increase my endurance (and I've been enjoying running) so I've been running almost everyday.

For example, yesterday, I ran for 24 minutes. Today, I could only run for about 6 minutes and then had to walk a bit before starting up again. It's like my muscles were tired/fatigued, like I had no "oomph".

My question is, should I keep running (almost) everyday or should I run every other day? Which would be most beneficial in the long run (sorry, pun!)?

Replies

  • 8lackie
    8lackie Posts: 39 Member
    Mixing it up is helpful. Running, a bit of weight lifting. Swimming if it's available. I tend to eat breakfast before I work out. I'm less likely to feel that run-down depleted feeling I think you're describing. I throw in an off day every 4 days and that helps my body recover and keeps me from getting totally bored. Varying your workouts helps -which I guess I said at the beginning.
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,293 Member
    I cycle and run on alternate days. It seems to help with both. But I am sure in need of a rest day tomorrow!
  • charming12u
    charming12u Posts: 49 Member
    I try to get my miles in Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and do my long miles on Sunday. Body has been happy with that for almost 3 years :)
  • RWTBR
    RWTBR Posts: 140 Member
    Yeah, you can, but it takes a while to build up to. 7 years ago, I wasn't active at all. Now I run 11 or more miles per day and take Body Pump 3 times a week.

    Do what you think you can maintain and not grow tired of. And listen to your body.
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
    Yeah, you can, but it takes a while to build up to. 7 years ago, I wasn't active at all. Now I run 11 or more miles per day

    i agree with this. i pretty much run daily, most days 9 miles at a minimum.
  • kilsafari
    kilsafari Posts: 61
    I run 5-10 miles every day except for Wednesdays. This is the only exercise I do. I know exactly what you're referring to as far as feeling pumped and ready to run nonstop one day and then feel like your body has no idea what endurance is the next. The longer I've been doing this the less I've been feeling it. By tuesday I'm usually burnt out but that one rest day fixes me up again. The more you keep at it the easier it gets, it if too much for you now just cut it down to four or five days a week and work your way up. I don't see anything wrong with it.
  • badbcatha05
    badbcatha05 Posts: 200 Member
    Yeah, you can, but it takes a while to build up to. 7 years ago, I wasn't active at all. Now I run 11 or more miles per day and take Body Pump 3 times a week.

    Do what you think you can maintain and not grow tired of. And listen to your body.

    I agree with this. I've been running for about a year and my body is just now getting to where I can run two days back to back. It's definitely not ready for 6 days a week yet. Your body will guide you.
  • Shropshire1959
    Shropshire1959 Posts: 982 Member
    Rest Days ARE an important part of your training.. It helps the body recover and is important..

    I know for me, 5 days a week is optimum but I have been known to run more often... sometimes twice (or more) a day but tend not to run more than 5 consecutive days a week.... I wouldn't want to appear addicted :tongue:
  • suzibanshee
    suzibanshee Posts: 62 Member
    Thank you all. I've decided that I'll do four days running. Maybe walk a bit two of those days and take one day completely off.
  • badbcatha05
    badbcatha05 Posts: 200 Member
    Thank you all. I've decided that I'll do four days running. Maybe walk a bit two of those days and take one day completely off.

    I do something 6 days a week.... Just not running. Sometimes it's walking... sometimes I walk later in the day after I have already run. Do you have a gym membership? I love the erg on my non-run days.
  • suzibanshee
    suzibanshee Posts: 62 Member
    "I do something 6 days a week.... Just not running. Sometimes it's walking... sometimes I walk later in the day after I have already run. Do you have a gym membership? I love the erg on my non-run days."

    No, I don't have a gym membership. I've been thinking about it, but I love going to the park so much!
  • RUNNING_AMOK_1958
    RUNNING_AMOK_1958 Posts: 268 Member
    You will find you will actually increase your endurance faster by taking recovery days. Recovery is as important as the run itself. It is entirely possible that had you taken a recovery day or two you would have been able to run 30 minutes instead of 6. Strength training and cross training are also components for becoming a better runner. Also be sure to eat enough. 1200 net is not enough for a runner. I find I have my best runs if I ate more the day before. Good luck with your goals!
  • suzibanshee
    suzibanshee Posts: 62 Member
    You will find you will actually increase your endurance faster by taking recovery days. Recovery is as important as the run itself. It is entirely possible that had you taken a recovery day or two you would have been able to run 30 minutes instead of 6. Strength training and cross training are also components for becoming a better runner. Also be sure to eat enough. 1200 net is not enough for a runner. I find I have my best runs if I ate more the day before. Good luck with your goals!

    You're right. I'm going to take tomorrow off and then hit it hard on Tuesday. No problem with me not eating enough, I've been eating everything I can get my hands on for the past two/three weeks (since I've started to really push myself) - to the point where I wonder if I will gain...but not worried about it much.

Categories