Running rest days are SO HARD for me!
Lindsay_the_great
Posts: 209 Member
i know how important it is to run every OTHER day, especially when starting out. My husband was a marathon runner once upon a time before I met him. He pushed too hard and wound up with a back injury that ended his running days. So I KNOW. But I'm enjoying it so dang much and that is so surprising to me because I always LOATHED running. For 37 years I hated it. I try to find new and fun ways to get moving on non running days, but the urge to lace up my running shoes is always there.
I guess that's a pretty awesome problem to have.
I guess that's a pretty awesome problem to have.
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I know the feeling, I'm training for a 10k in March and was running 6 times a week, have now been advised down to four on my new plan. It's so hard to use other means of exercise because nothing beats the burn of a good run!
At the moment I go between spin/stationary bike and abdominals.0 -
you could add in some light strength training on off days….0
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I wouldn't hesitate to run every day if you don't have issues with osteoarthritis and you don't do lots of miles at each outing...I'm no personal trainer (or marathon runner), but I'll definitely go through waves where I run (or maybe "jog" is a better description of what I do) at least 4 miles every day- when I get up to higher mileage (around 8-10miles), I sometimes feel it in my knees so I go easier for the next few days. You could also alternate with an elliptical treadmill if you're worried about concussion. I think the biggest secret is to invest in great running shoes (I have many pairs that are all different and I do mix up which ones I use every few runs).
Congrats for being hooked on running - it's a good problem to have :-)0 -
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You can build up to running every day. It's good not to run HARD every day, but a lot of people alternate hard runs with really slow ("paper bag over your head pace") shorter runs.
I'm impressed with your husband's mental fortitude. I'm hopefully just temporarily injured, but if Mr. Catastrophe were running right now, we'd be on a break. And like you--I'm someone who used to hate it!0 -
Ha yeah he can't run anymore but he does plenty of other exercise. He is a writer so he took a part time job with a landscape business for the workout. He gets paid to get fit! What a freaking genius.
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big_lindsay wrote: »Ha yeah he can't run anymore but he does plenty of other exercise. He is a writer so he took a part time job with a landscape business for the workout. He gets paid to get fit! What a freaking genius.
He's just a better person than I am.
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So it's really truly safe for me to run 3 or 4 miles every day? I don't want to risk injury as a new runner.0
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If you are really new to running (how new is new? If you can already run a 5k, it's not that new)perhaps even sports altogether, as I was before taking up running 3,5 years ago, I would not recommend running every day. I am no expert, it just sounds like asking for injury. Just slowly build it up, and mix longer runs with shorter ones. Do use the off days: if you run a lot, you need core stability to prevent injuries in the long run. Look up some exercises and make a habit of doing them.0
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If you are really new to running (how new is new? If you can already run a 5k, it's not that new)perhaps even sports altogether, as I was before taking up running 3,5 years ago, I would not recommend running every day. I am no expert, it just sounds like asking for injury. Just slowly build it up, and mix longer runs with shorter ones. Do use the off days: if you run a lot, you need core stability to prevent injuries in the long run. Look up some exercises and make a habit of doing them.
Thank you for the good information. That's what I was told by my husband and I just wasn't sure.0 -
I jog/walk 3 miles 5-6 days a week (along with weight lifting 5 days a week) for years. And I'm in my 50's. Recovery and rest are what make the difference and if you're not drained at work, falling asleep driving home, etc. then you're probably getting enough rest.big_lindsay wrote: »So it's really truly safe for me to run 3 or 4 miles every day? I don't want to risk injury as a new runner.
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I jog/walk 3 miles 5-6 days a week (along with weight lifting 5 days a week) for years. And I'm in my 50's. Recovery and rest are what make the difference and if you're not drained at work, falling asleep driving home, etc. then you're probably getting enough rest.big_lindsay wrote: »So it's really truly safe for me to run 3 or 4 miles every day? I don't want to risk injury as a new runner.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
So if I'm still a light runner, 3-4 miles, it's ok to go two days in a row? Yesterday I only had time for 2 miles and I feel like I would like to finish today.0 -
Get shinsplints.....
I hope to never jog another day in my life, and have no desire to look like most joggers anyway.
HIIT is where it's at.0 -
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Are you shinsplints?
I hate you so much!0 -
I am not. lol
And I've had them before, but not since I learned proper form.0 -
big_lindsay wrote: »So if I'm still a light runner, 3-4 miles, it's ok to go two days in a row? Yesterday I only had time for 2 miles and I feel like I would like to finish today.
My advice would be to run every other day for at least a few months. If you then want to add one back-to-back pair of runs a week, do so, but shorten the distance so that your total mileage doesn't increase by more than 10% that week. You can gradually lengthen the runs. Keep a log and note any soreness, aches, and pains, and how the run feels: are you invigorated or tired? Was it easy or hard? Look for patterns; if you find you're getting little injuries or that running is becoming a chore, you might go back to every other day. If after a month or two, you can handle it, you could consider adding a 5th weekly run.
Back when I was running in the 1990s, my logs revealed that I could run 4 days a week, but adding a 5th run on top of my other activities resulted in much more frequent injuries. These days I run only three times a week, but I'm cycling, XC skiing, or hiking most other days. (I got into cycling, then came back to running for cross training.)
That said, if you only did 2 miles yesterday, you could do another 2 miles today and see how you feel. Doing a little more than usual every now and then isn't bad (unless you have an accident); it's chronic overuse that can lead to injuries.0 -
Just listen to your body - it'll tell you if you are doing too much. I was always under the impression that running is one of the few workouts that you can do every day -especially if you vary the distance and give yourself easier days.
It helps that I really like running shoes :-) I don't have lots of fancy shoes/high heels/etc, but when there are BOGO deals on running shoes, I get pretty excited.big_lindsay wrote: »
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This is what I'm turning into. I used to have a closet that would make a drag queen jealous. Heels and sparkles galore. Now it's almost all been replaced with fitness gear and sneakers and I couldn't be happier.It helps that I really like running shoes :-) I don't have lots of fancy shoes/high heels/etc, but when there are BOGO deals on running shoes, I get pretty excited.
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big_lindsay wrote: »I am not. lol
And I've had them before, but not since I learned proper form.
Aww, see, i'm not evil....
...and I never said that a runners look doesn't look good for the ladies : )
Who taught you proper form?0 -
big_lindsay wrote: »I am not. lol
And I've had them before, but not since I learned proper form.
Aww, see, i'm not evil....
...and I never said that a runners look doesn't look good for the ladies : )
Who taught you proper form?
A combination of my husband, a book called Chi Running, and my own careful experimentation.0 -
Is that the whole barefoot movement/running in central park in my lunch hour from the consulting firm, etc....deal??
Runners scare me.....
Wait, HUSBAND?
**walks away**0 -
Me too! I was going to rest today or maybe just walk, but I couldn't stand it. We have some foul weather blowing in soon though, so my joints will get a break whether I like it or not. Boo.0
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I have trouble with this too...the elliptical on off days just isn't the same!0
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big_lindsay wrote: »
I'll second this advice. I currently rotate three main pairs: Brooks Ghost 6, Mizuno Wave Rider 17, and Altra Olympus. The Brooks and Mizuno shoes are neutral shoes with about a 12-13mm heel to toe drop, and the Altras are zero drop. I run for fitness, not racing, and I figure that mixing it up will help avoid repetitive stress injuries.
I also have a pair of Salomon Speedcross trail shoes that I use for running on fresh snow and in slush; if there's ice, I put Kahtoola nanospikes on one of my regular shoes.0 -
I had the same problem too, when I started running last year, I loved how good I felt after a run and I wanted to run every day. Sorry no advice, just some sympathy:)0
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Rest days from running are hard for me too but last week I had to take 3 full rest days due to sciatic pain and I'm wondering if maybe doing it 6 days a week is taking its toll! I've been running for around 18 months and steadily increasing mileage.0
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