Streakers

jlynnbob

You'll ruin your knees!

posted: 4/10/2007 at 8:57 AM

...no, not that kind! All the talk lately about running on consecutive days without a rest day has gotten me thinking about it too. I am in my 10th consecutive day (that's a lot for me) and my legs are feeling more tired than usual. Last week was a high mileage week for me (a little over 70), so it could just be the mileage. Keep in mind that most of my running is 9 min/mile and slower on average and that I am 50, so recovery comes more slowly than it used to. I was just wondering if your legs took some time to get used to the daily grind. Most of you are a good bit younger and quite a bit faster'n me, but I thought I'd ask anyway... Should I go back to taking breaks every few days or should I expect to get more comfortable with the daily running? Thoughts? Thanks, Lynn B

""...the truth that someday, you will go for your last run. But not today—today you got to run." - Matt Crownover (after Western States)

Scout7

CPT Curmudgeon

posted: 4/10/2007 at 9:01 AM

Toughie. I would say it depends on just how tired you feel. I would try reducing the intensity, or mileage, first, then if you're still feeling exhausted all the time, take a day or two.

Jeff

posted: 4/10/2007 at 9:16 AM

I'm one of those good deal younger folks, but I have to say that my legs adjusted more quickly to the daily grind now than in my younger days. My suspicion is that it is the mileage, rather than the consecutive days that is wearing you out. Take a day off, though. Or run three miles today in 35:00. See if it helps. When I was feeling exhausted after building to a consistent 70 per week, I took two days off and was able to jump to 100 and feel fine. Sometimes you gotta let the body catch back up. By the way, hours-wise, you are running more than I was at 100 mpw. Your legs SHOULD BE tired.

The Logic of Long Distance

mikeymike

posted: 4/10/2007 at 9:46 AM

A few things I've noticed through being a committed every day runner: - I now have a much better feel for how much recovery is needed and when I am (or am not) fully recovered form a workout. - I run much easier on my recovery days than I used to and I am ever mindful that the purpose of these runs is recovery. - I feel way better the day after a super easy 45 minute recovery run than I do after a day of no running. - Easy pace varies from day to day and it's important to just go with it. - I really, really look forward to those easy days. In part this is because I have begun to make my hard days (generally 2 a week) harder and I need the recovery. But it's also because I've made my easy days so easy that it becomes more of a mental exercise than physical. This is MY 45-60 minutes to contemplate my life, organize my thoughts, appreciate all I have and all kinds of other touchy feely shite. - I think I'm much better able to handle running every day now than I would have been 10 years ago because I'm so much better at keeping easy days easy. Of course you do some monster long runs and I haven't done a 2+ hour run in years, so your recovery requirements are different than mine, but I think you can adjust to every day. Ultrasteve seems to handlie it well.

Runners run.

Chris UK

posted: 4/10/2007 at 1:07 PM

Hi Lynn We seem quite similar in some respects. I'm 56 and have currently been running consecutively for the last 13 days. Last week I did a 74 mile week and I'm also running mostly around 9min/mile. Apart from achy knees when going down stairs I don't appear to have any issues with tiredness. I'm just coming up to my first year of running (April 13th) so you could say I am still fresh!! I think the main difference between us is that you have made 4 huge racing efforts in the last 3 weeks or so. Not sure how I would cope with that but generally when I have taken a day off after a bigger than average effort I have not felt that much better for it. As long as I do a steady recovery run that seems to keep me 'looser'. Of course everyone is different and it is debatable whether running every day is absolutely necessary when a certain fitness level has been attained. However I am still at the stage where I am hoping to improve so I want to keep up the mileage. I do like to run every day. Of course if the leg tiredness develops into a more general lethargy then perhaps it would be a good idea to back off somewhat. Hope I'm not trying to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs here. Wink

2013

3000 miles

Sub 19:00 for 5K 05-03-13 Clee Prom 5K - 19:00:66 that was bloody close!

Sub-40:00 for 10K 17-03-13 Gainsborough 10K - 39:43

Sub 88:00 for HM

abe_mend

posted: 4/10/2007 at 1:12 PM

As someone that used to hate taking days off (only between seasons), I learned to run make sure that my workouts were run hard and that my easy days felt easy to me. Somedays an easy pace would be 6:00. Somedays an easy pace would be 7:00. One of the advantages I had running on a team or with a group is that I could pick a group going at a certain pace and run with them rather than running alone and feeling like I had to push myself just so I could match (or better) what I did previously for eight miles. Now I'm all grown up Wink

and out of shape and can easily tell myself to take it easy for the day. Lynn, do you have a goal for this streak?

There was a point in my life when I ran. Now, I just run.

Back beat, the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt

The Diary of a Once-ran.

jlynnbob

You'll ruin your knees!

posted: 4/11/2007 at 9:15 AM

Thanks, guys for all the input. I am feeling pretty good, nowhere near exhausted, so I think I'll keep going, but dial back the intensity (as if my running ever actually reaches anything anyone would consider "intense"). Keep in mind, if I dial it back much, I'll be backing up! Abe, I have no goal for the streak, other than to use it as a tool to ramp up mileage and keep it at a pretty high level (for me) as I prepare for a long mountain race in June. I will be mixing in lots of long runs and hills to build my leg/lung capacity. The dad-gummed pace bunny has gotten to me as well. I have run right at 1,500 miles per year from 2004-2006 and have thoughts of hitting 2,000 this year as I try and make a statement for turning 50 (last November). I guess you could say this is my mid-life crisis! Confused

Thanks everyone... Lynn B

""...the truth that someday, you will go for your last run. But not today—today you got to run." - Matt Crownover (after Western States)

2000 miles of spasmotic signing

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