How many days/week do you run? (Read 1475 times)

Right now, I run between 5 and 7 days per week, consisting of between 6 and 10 running workouts and 7 and 12 total workouts per week. (I count shoveling snow for 60-90 minutes a workout.) In college, I ran 7 days per week, 12-13 running workouts, 15-20 total workouts per week. In terms of being helpful for you, I think that you should gradually increase your mileage and that its a good idea. I'd suggest just adding 1 extra workout where you run roughly 3 miles this week, and then next week extend one workout to run a little farther than your average. The week after that just do the same as you did the week before. If everything feels good, then add a fifth workout in 3 or 4 weeks from now. You may want to consider trading off weeks between running 4 times and 5 times for a few months. Just play it by ear and by feel. Your body will tell you if you are increasing too fast and need to back off a little.

I do 5 days most weeks. Works pretty well. I ran 3-4x/week for about the first year I was running, then gradually added a fifth run at about the one year mark. I have had a couple of 6 run weeks, but it gets tough to add that extra run in some weeks and my body seems happier with 5. Someday maybe I will do 6-7 (perhaps after running my first marathon...I'll have a PR to beat, then), but not at this point.

5 days...6 would mean divorce. I didnt move from 4 days to 5 days until I had been consistantly running 4 days a week for a long time AND I got to a mileage point where I simply needed to split it out in order to keep building mileage. I can't run more than 8-10 on a weekday timewise, and realistically more than 6 is pushing it

This time of year I'm lucky to get in 2-3 days a week due to weather constraints. I generally run 3-4 days a week in the summer unless I'm training for a race and then I'll add an extra day. As a new runner I would suggest that you stick to three or four days a week for a while to give you plenty of recovery time between runs. Slowly increase the distance of your runs until the distance becomes impractical before adding additional running days. It's not how many days a week you run that builds your endurance, it's how far you run on a regular basis. In other words, three 5 mile runs will contribute to your conditioning safely and more effectively than seven 2 mile runs. I know it takes me 1-2 miles just to get warmed up to where I can run comfortably. Rest is critical for a new runner since new runners tend to do more damage to their legs than experienced runners, even though they run fewer miles. After you've been running for a while your form will improve as your legs strengthen and you'll learn which types of shoes work for you and which ones don't. Consequently you'll be able to run higher mileage with less wear and tear on your joints and connective tissues. Tom

NH, there are definitely similarities between us. I started with the C25K program in Oct. 2006 after having vowed I would NEVER run! I'm about your weight, trying to get down to your goal weight, too. You're a little faster than me, though. My kids are older (9, 12, and 15), but they still keep me very busy. I don't live too far from you - just north of Portland. I have increased my running gradually, from 3 times a week (9 miles total a few months ago) to 5 or 6 times a week (26 miles total this week). One thing that has helped me was to sign up for a half marathon next September. I'm increasing my long run by a half mile every two weeks, so I'm up to 7 miles now, making sure that the run is no more than a third of my total miles for the week. Knowing that the race is looming helps me get out in bad conditions or when I feel like I'm too tired or busy. Just take it slowly and have fun!!

Eastern Michiganders need to HTFU.

Right. I was planning to run this morning but we have about 3" of frozen slush on the roads. It's kinda like trying to run through a plowed field without turning an ankle. I'll wait until it warms up this weekend. I'd hate to miss spring running due to a sprained or broken ankle. How's the weather been over on the west side of the state? Tom

Right. I was planning to run this morning but we have about 3" of frozen slush on the roads. It's kinda like trying to run through a plowed field without turning an ankle. I'll wait until it warms up this weekend. I'd hate to miss spring running due to a sprained or broken ankle. How's the weather been over on the west side of the state? Tom

Snow snow and more snow. If I waited for clean roads out in BFE I wouldn't have run at all in about the past month. No joke. I think we've had over 90" of snow already this year.