Run-Down Forums

[graeme]

I'm just curious about whether "rest days" should include no running at all or only easy running. For example, if I'm doing hard workouts on Tuesday and Thursday with a rest on Wednesday, should I still go for a jog or easy run on Wednesday?

I try to read about these things, but it's hard to find things that apply to a 15 year old, rather than someone who's full grown.

[Dan]

Complete rest, i.e. nothing at all, will benefit you when you're close to breaking down mentally or physically. It should not take the place of regular easy days though, otherwise you sacrifice the aerobic conditioning aspect of daily running and lose some of the active recovery benefits of keeping the muscles loose and blood flowing.

Dan

[Shaun Fox]

i find that running between hard workouts helps keep me loose and stops my legs feeling achey the next day.

[graeme]

Ok, I don't usually find myself unusually tired the day after hard workouts, so I guess it would be a good idea to do some easy running on most of those days.

thanks

[Hammer]

You need to find a distance that you can run that will not cause serious fatigue. If you run hard tuesdays and thursdays then first try and run 2-3 miles on wednesdays. As you get stronger try to build on that distance. Some runers are able to run for an hour on their off days (non intense days) other runners can only run 3 miles. I say run but don't make it a tough day, you want to be ready for thursday.

Others may tell you to not run at all and read RUNNER'S WORLD all day.

[Distance_Guru]

[graeme]

I've been jogging for around 30 minutes on my rest days and it seems to be working out well.

I love running magazines, but for soem reason I hardly ever buy them... maybe I should get a subscription.

[Distance_Guru]

As far as running magazines go there are a few to choose from, but for my money the best one out there is Running Research News. It is the only magazine I've found that gives advice for advanced runners. There articles focus on the science of running and training. As opposed to articels with titles like; run/walk to a new PR and a four weeks to the fastest you've ever been with no running. I just get tired of gimicky magazines that caiter to and in my opinion exploit beginning runners. Having articles in the racing report about athletes running sub 13 minute 5k's and giving articles that won't help a new runner break 25 minutes is cruel in my ever so humble opinion.
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Time is the fire in which we burn

[Hammer]

I'm another person who doesn't like RUNNERS WORLD. It has done more harm than good. It tries to tell people that there is an easy way to: lose weight, get fast. Horrible....

[Dan]

I enjoy the occasional reading of Running Research News enjoyable, but I find the recommendation a bit ironic considering its ties to Runners' World (Owen Anderson, is it?) and the oft held opinion that RRN's science isn't all that scientific.

Dan

[Distance_Guru]

It's still the best magazine out there for fast runners who are looking to get faster.
_________________
Time is the fire in which we burn

[Hammer]

I was speaking more of tha nature of the advise of RUNERS WORLD. I personally would rather read RRN because it fits my personallity closer.

[bubba]

Ya'll talking about rest days or running magezines?

[Hammer]

A little of both Bubba. Mostly because Runners World would always advise someone to rest. I believe that the writers of Runners World believe that rest(and lots of it) will make people faster.

[Distance_Guru]

I'm not so sure that is what they believe, since many of them were world class runners at one time. But they are being paid to tell people that running is always easy, fun and that you can get into the best shape of your life with four weeks of light exercise. In other words they are telling the lay person what they want to here.
_________________
Time is the fire in which we burn