Everyday Runners???

I started running every other day, 1/2 mile was my first distance and thought I was going to fall out. 2 years later I am running 4 days a week training for my marathon. It took time and good friends. I don't know that I would recommend running everyday as I like to give my legs a rest and do some cross training, but my best recommendation would be find a local run group. Running with people helped me more than anything.

I just started C25K and I know you must rest in between days but AFTER I complete the program I would like to become a daily runner with Sundays off. How many of you run every day? How long did it take you before you were able to accomplish this? How far do you run each day? Any tips for a newbie who has been bitten by the Run Bug?

Inquiring minds and all that...

About 1.5 years. I just ended a 30 day/209mi run streak.

Advice? Calm down, go slow, and don't overdo it.

I am no expert, but I will share my experience. I run pretty much every morning, although I miss the occasional day. I started about 3 months ago, but I also play soccer, where I run a lot too (I play centre midfield). I run about 5k each morning. I run in the neighbourhood of my office during the week (we have a shower in the office building), and in the park across the street from my house on weekends. There are a few things that I would have told myself if I were starting today. I would definitely say get good shoes. For me, I also find that having an app on my phone helps. I have a heart monitor too, but I like the app for tracking. I use an app on my phone called, "RunKeeper". I like it, but I'm sure there are lots of equivalent apps out there. The app that I use is customizable to your taste for updates and music playlist. I set it to tell me my pace, distance traveled, and time every three minutes. I find that keeps me motivated. I also find that switching my route each day makes my run more enjoyable. I have a couple of routes that I run, and sometimes to add more variation I will adjust them (i.e. clockwise one day, counterclockwise another). What else I find really helps me is music. I bought some great headphones, that don;t pop out of my ears as I run, and I took the time to make my own playlist of songs that motivate me. I think my playlist is about 60 songs so far, and I add to it. I just set my phone on shuffle, and start running. One last thing, is stretching. I stretch my legs and upper body before each run, and then stretch after the run too. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy your running! :-) Good luck!

I started running consistently since October of 2013. Back then I was doing 3 miles on the treadmill at a time 4-5 days a week.
I increased slowly the number of miles I ran on the treadmill and started running outdoors for 4 miles on Saturdays starting a month later. Then I started to really increase my miles very fast to the point to ditch the treadmill all together. But even at that point I was only running at most 5 days a week. I had to slow down in the month of February and March cause of an overuse injury on my left ankle and knee. Starting in May is when I started to pile the miles back on but slowly. It's just now, 10 months later that I ventured to run 6 days a week. But 2 of those days are slow 5 milers. (slow in comparison to the other days that i am running by like 1 minute to 90 seconds slower pace).

I run 3 days a week (skip a day, then run). There is the occasional 4 days (usually the 4th is a race).

The other 3 days a week that I'm not running, I strength train, specifically weight lifting. I believe strongly in the importance of cross training and the benefits of strength training.

I do have one day a week for "rest". Since I play sports (football and softball), I don't always get that rest day.

I took up running a little over 1.5 years ago. Started with a C25K also. I love running. I currently have 2 days that are longish runs, and one day that is a shorter, but more intense, run.

Enjoy running, and I know you'll rock that 5k in October. My best advice is to be careful about adding mileage. After the C25K program, take your time adding days and/or distance. You want to reduce your chance of injury.:flowerforyou:

I started to run about a year ago 3 days a week and about a mile each time. I slowly added distance then another day and for the last 3 months or so I have run daily with the occasion day off if I feel I need it. I run anywhere from 2 to 5 miles, again depending what my body tells me. I tend to do lighter days the morning after I lift, I have been doing Stronglifts 5x5 for over month now. On my rest day when I take one I might bike after work or take my dog for a long walk.

I run around 10km or more almost every day. I was able to start running daily after a few months of consistent training and finished last month with 427km (a little over 265 miles).

Codemonkey obviously is an animal. Follow his advice at your own risk. Running 265 miles in a month might make a leg fall off. I think I'm a tough guy when I get 180 in a month. Codemonkey sissifies me.

You folks are giving some awesome advice. Trust me, I plan to take this super slow. I have no visions of grandeur about being a fast runner and winning races. My goal is to be as fit as I can. I'm a firm believe in the adage that slow and steady wins the race. If I am able to run 3 miles a day, 5x a week eventually, I will be happy. As for running fast, that isn't even in my equation. I figure that speed will come naturally with just running and more so as the weight comes off. I've read of some that run 9 and 10 minute miles. I'll be happy to run a 15 to 20 minute mile...and I'm not even looking toward that until I've been running for a year or so.

I do need to find a place to get fitted properly for running shoes. I live in NoWheresVille so there are no stores like that around here. I'm thinking I will have to drive to the Big City aka Nashville to find a place like that. Any advise on how to find a store like that is very much welcomed. Until then I have 2 different pairs of New Balance that I am switching up. So far, I haven't had any real pain to even mention. Sometimes I feel stiff when I first start walking but by the time my 5 minute warm up is over...the pain is gone.

Other than my question about where to get fitted properly for shoes...my next question is about eating before and after a workout...especially a race. What are your thoughts on this? What do you eat or drink pre and post run???

For the eating/drinking part: You'll need to find what works for you. Before I run, I will have eaten a meal within the past 2-4 hours. I always eat breakfast before a race...making sure it's 1.5-2 hours before the race. Post-race depends on how long the race is or if it's close to a meal time. The key is...don't eat anything "new" before a run. The last thing you want to do is upset your stomach while running.

As for drinking: I make sure I'm hydrated before any run and don't carry water unless the distance is in the 8 mile & above range. I always have water afterwards. For half-marathon training, I do also have coconut water to give me some extra potassium/nutrients on runs over 90 minutes long.

Running stores: You can Google "nashville running stores" and see what you come up with. Here in Houston, we have places like Luke's Locker, Tri-Run, and Fleet Feet. Not sure if those have locations in Nashville.

Muzica... if you really want to hit a second cardio on your run days, I would do it after you run, not before, especially if you want to build up your running time and distance. You don't want to fry your legs before you even hit the pavement. If it was me, on my non-running days I would do my "lighter" aerobic routines and then on my running days, I would follow my run with my more intense aerobic routine. That way I would be pounding myself hard three days with lighter, recovery days in between.