How important is a rest day?

MommyandStinky · October 2015

I am a stay at home mother and I run. I run everyday on my treadmill and when I get the chance to run outdoors I take it which is usually on weekends. I've never really caught myself thinking of one. I only run an hour a day and that's MY time. For that one hour I'm alone. I think about my day, how to resolve issues I need to, our just concentrate and focus on myself. The other 23 hours I'm doing everything you think a stay at home mother does. My 8 and 9 year olds have told me I'm like a maid, doctor, plumber (just cuz I've plunged the toilet once or twice lol) etc. If I cheat which I highly avoid I may only run for 30 mins or also once in a long while I don't if I'm really that busy but on the end of days I don't, I find myself before bed wishing I had taken my run. I've never experienced an injury (knock on wood) and if I lose weight thumbs up, if not I'm fine where I am. It's just an hour to myself, no distractions. So, should I be taking a rest day??

New_determination · October 2015

Meh if u enjoy it n it's ur time who cares. It's a good idea to give your muscles a chance to recuperate n rest but from one stay at home mom to another the time alone to be yourself is golden even more so if your doing something to better yourself. Stay at home mom- the struggle is real!!!

amillenium · October 2015

Don't want to opine on whether a rest day is necessary as I think it's a decision of what works for you, though some may find it essential but did want to comment and say I totally relate to the rest of your post! I (mostly) run but do mix it up a bit now.

I have an hour a day, albeit at 5am, that is 100% to myself (no kids, no work, no one but me). I use that time to run and think and plan out my day and it is the best thing I can do for myself. It feels amazing!

Honestly the days I take off I feel totally off all day--not in a sense that I didn't get a work out in but that I missed my special "me" time. I think running keeps me sane with work, kids and life in general.

MommyandStinky · October 2015

new_obsession wrote: »

Meh if u enjoy it n it's ur time who cares. It's a good idea to give your muscles a chance to recuperate n rest but from one stay at home mom to another the time alone to be yourself is golden even more so if your doing something to better yourself. Stay at home mom- the struggle is real!!!

Yes! It is real!! Lol

MommyandStinky · October 2015

amillenium wrote: »

Don't want to opine on whether a rest day is necessary as I think it's a decision of what works for you, though some may find it essential but did want to comment and say I totally relate to the rest of your post! I (mostly) run but do mix it up a bit now.

I have an hour a day, albeit at 5am, that is 100% to myself (no kids, no work, no one but me). I use that time to run and think and plan out my day and it is the best thing I can do for myself. It feels amazing!

Honestly the days I take off I feel totally off all day--not in a sense that I didn't get a work out in but that I missed my special "me" time. I think running keeps me sane with work, kids and life in general.

Amen girlfriend!! I feel the exact same way if I don't get my run in, just off

It is my "me" time and it is an AMAZING hour even though some people might think it isn't much.

csuhar · October 2015

MommyandStinky wrote: »

I am a stay at home mother and I run. I run everyday on my treadmill and when I get the chance to run outdoors I take it which is usually on weekends. I've never really caught myself thinking of one. I only run an hour a day and that's MY time. For that one hour I'm alone. I think about my day, how to resolve issues I need to, our just concentrate and focus on myself. The other 23 hours I'm doing everything you think a stay at home mother does. My 8 and 9 year olds have told me I'm like a maid, doctor, plumber (just cuz I've plunged the toilet once or twice lol) etc. If I cheat which I highly avoid I may only run for 30 mins or also once in a long while I don't if I'm really that busy but on the end of days I don't, I find myself before bed wishing I had taken my run. I've never experienced an injury (knock on wood) and if I lose weight thumbs up, if not I'm fine where I am. It's just an hour to myself, no distractions. So, should I be taking a rest day??

As long as you're not hurting, you should be fine. A "daily run" is usually different from (and less intense than) what people are envisioning when they start saying rest days are necessary. If you were running and training to get into competitions, then you might be entering the realm of regimens where rest days are necessary.

lemmie177 · October 2015

IMO, rest days are precautionary. The thinking is that it's much better to be slightly undertrained than overtrained. I usually think about them in the context of weight training, where your muscles physically need to recover. If your runs are invigorating rather than depleting, its seems unlikely that you're in danger of overtraining.

Rest days are also relative, meaning a rest day for you might just be reducing mileage, pace, or time. I say go ahead and listen to your body. Just be mindful of the first signs of fatigue or injury.

RobynLB83 · October 2015

I ran an hour or more every day for years before I knew rest days were a thing. My legs and feet are still in perfect working order.

AsISmile · October 2015

For me, very. I enjoy being able to not have to go to the gym.
Don't get me wrong, I love the gym but am currently still pretty new to my 5 day a week program and being able to take breaks is awesome.

FatMoojor · October 2015

Being honest, if you are just running an hour a day your not going to need a rest day. The time relaxing on a run is probably more of a rest than it would be if you were indoors not running

patrikc333 · October 2015

day 127 of non stop running

you read lots of different opinion

in the end, I like it, I feel better, no injuries so far (touching wood), I feel worst if I don't do it, so I keep going, hoping for the best

if something negative will happen, I'll think about it when it'll happen, not certainly now

SchweddyGirl · October 2015

Your answer is different based on what you are trying to do. I take "rest" days after my long run days, but that usually involves walking to clear the lingering soreness out of my legs. Streakers may do a one mile run on their rest days at a very slow pace, but you could still consider it a rest day. Someone training to race a 5K might do speed work one day, and a recovery run the next (for their rest day).

As you can see it really depends on how your body feels and your training goals.

lporter229 · October 2015

When you are training, you are pushing your limits in order to progress towards a certain goal. Rest days or easy days are part of this process. The rest period is when your body repairs itself and you get stronger. If you are training in this capacity, you will KNOW when you have to take a rest day. It sounds like you are running more for leisure and relaxation and not pushing yourself overly hard. As long as your body isn't screaming for rest, I think you should be fine.

nordlead2005 · October 2015

The need for a rest day is solely dependent on relative intensity. If you aren't pushing yourself, then you probably don't need a rest day.

rankinsect · October 2015

Yup - if you're exercising and not training, rest days are optional. If you're doing serious training, they are necessary or you actually backside. It sounds like you're exercising.

Oh, and rest days don't need to be complete rest, but not strenuously pushing your limits either.

How important is a rest day?

Replies

Categories