For all you runners out there...

Hi BeautyFromPain! You should really allow your muscles time to properly recover after a run. Have you considered other forms of cardio you could do inbetween your running days? Cycling, elliptical, and swimming, all burn pleanty of calories but are low impact exercises. Also, have you been keeping a journal? Has your running time and or distance improved in this month?

I'm probably too new (to running) to make a definite statement but just as an example, my training plans that I've been doing (5K first and now half marathon) have me running every other day, with crosstraining (biking, swimming, light walking) in between. The 5K plan was M W F running... the Half is T, Th, Sun. I am at the gym nearly everyday (one rest day a week to do nothing) but I don't run everyday. I ride the stationary bike, or do yoga or something like that on my non-running days.

Now, this is for training fro\\or a race. I have specific sets of miles I have to run at certain times. If you are just running for cardio it may not matter if it's the same distance/time (30 min) everyday, but like the previous poster mentioned, some rest/recovery time might be good. And help prevent injuries/fatigue.

you are looking close to a burn out.

you shouldnt run every day. you need time to recoup and let your muscles repair yourself. if not, you wont see any changes in your running (distance, speed). Are you running for weight loss? or training for a race?

It's been almost a year for me, and I still won't run 5 days in a row. I'm ok with two. Maybe three. I've never had any running related problems, but I don't want any, either.

A lot depends on how your body is handeling it. You do need to take time off to rest. When I am seriously running I do run 5-6 days a week. During that time I do my light days for 30 minutes (at a talking pace), one faster day, and one long running day. With school right now I don't have time for that much running.

My husband is a distance runner (captain of cross country for our undergrad, and his high school and set all of their records) and he runs 5-6 days per week.

Just make sure most of your runs are easy runs. That's how you increase your blood volume and the amount of oxygen in your blood. Which of course makes you a better runner.

A lot depends on how your body is handeling it. You do need to take time off to rest. When I am seriously running I do run 5-6 days a week. During that time I do my light days for 30 minutes (at a talking pace), one faster day, and one long running day. With school right now I don't have time for that much running.

My husband is a distance runner (captain of cross country for our undergrad, and his high school and set all of their records) and he runs 5-6 days per week.

Just make sure most of your runs are easy runs. That's how you increase your blood volume and the amount of oxygen in your blood. Which of course makes you a better runner.

Yes and make sure to stretch very well at the end of each run. Pay attention to your body. I can only run every second day because of IT band issues. On the other days I do other types of cardio and strength training to balance it out.

I have run for years. I usually don't run more than every other day. Occasionally if I do a very long run, I will do a shorter, easier light run to work out the soreness.

When I run too much/frequently the bottom of my feet hurt. I think if you are running too frequently you are much more likely to injure yourself from overuse of the same musscles and give up.


Usually I alternate running with biking or elliptical. Recently I completed a weight loss competiition at work (which I won by the way). The competition counted weight loss, water consumption, # of fruit/veg consumed and minutes of daily exercise. To get max points, I needed to do at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. I usually take 1 or 2 days off to let my body rest and heal. To maintain the 7 days a week exercise, I alternated 1 day run, 1 day bike or elliptical, and 1 day walking. The walking gave me enough of a rest to be able to maintain this level of exercise for over 3 months. The competition is over now and I am dropping back to 3-4 days a week.

Good luck and stay motivated.

When I started with C25K, the biggest caution was running every day. If you haven't run in the past (say you weren't on track or many sports), you tendons and ligaments are not use to the stress. Running every day risks injuries. Give yourself time to build up - lay a good foundation and you'll be good to go.

I ran in the Marines and stopped running after my enlistment. I started back up about 16 months ago (after a decade of not exercising) at age 35 and 300 lbs. Mostly, I run so that a little dog does not feel the need to destroy my house when my wife and I leave for work. I run every day, but I listen to my body. Most days, I usually go about 2 miles. Some days, we only go 3/4 of a mile, or we walk, or a little of both. I have been doing a little over four miles on Fridays, and not running as long or as hard the rest of the week. I do not normally run on the weekends, but today, for instance I ran 7.2 miles because I spent an entire week away hunting with my wife and in-laws so I did not get in any running.

My advice is to take it slow, listen to your body, push yourself if you feel right about it. You can run every day if it's not the same exact routine. Stay hydrated, and get off the treadmill for at least one run per week.