Comments on: Is It Better To Take a Day Off From Running or Go For an Easy Run?

By: Barefoot Brandon » Naughty dog! Plus, my first trail running mishap

Barefoot Brandon » Naughty dog! Plus, my first trail running mishap — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:19:37 +0000

[...] Is It Better To Take a Day Off From Running or Go For an Easy Run? [Run to Win] – Another article I found as I try not to hurt myself. Unfortunately, the article didn’t really convince me either way, but maybe it can help you? At this point, I’m just making minor adjustments to my routine, like taking a day or two off per week and only doing one long run a week. [...]

By: What’s Better, 1 Run Per Day or 2 Runs Per Day? @ Run to Win

What’s Better, 1 Run Per Day or 2 Runs Per Day? @ Run to Win — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:59:55 +0000

[...] weeks ago I answered Tom’s question about whether it is better to take an easy day or a rest day for improved [...]

By: KG

KG — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:27:48 +0000

An easy day is important, but there are things you can do in addition to running that will still get you a good cardiovascular workout on an easy/off day. I either swim or bike one day per week. Yes, it’s not running, but I feel that it’s better than walking and much better than doing nothing at all. I think a day off from running and pounding often does the body good.

By: Kat Argonza

Kat Argonza — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:03:50 +0000

I would almost always take a day off. Since my surgery, my knees have gotten better about not hurting but once in awhile, they really do hurt like crazy. So, the best thing I have found is to schedule a day off where I do yoga or spend time icing and massaging my knee.

By: Don

Don — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:49:49 +0000

I definitely benefit more from a short easy run than a complete day off. If I take a day off I feel stiff and achy; in part because my job routine has me sitting down most of the day in meetings or at a computer; or traveling in a car; or standing in one place for long periods of time. I have learned over almost thirty years of running that I feel the best if I can do some form of aerobic exercise every day.

By: katie

katie — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:56:01 +0000

I was actually wondering the same thing- I know that muscles build up during times of increased testosterone levels which is produced during rest periods, but I also feel best when I don’t skip days-thanks for the insight!

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:53:18 +0000

I will start by saying sorry this is so long. I quit smoking about 2 years ago after running my first ever 5K in 30:25, about 9 months in I had a personal best of 21:41, ( and like a fool I had started smoking again, just a little ) I was able to get my time down by always running what I believe you call “threshold” runs, always as fast as I could on that given day and that seemed to work for me. I also ran a long run every week and went up to Pineland Farms with our High School XC kids a half dozen times over the summer. I am now on my 4th week of being smoke free again. My normal 5K loop that I run for training typically takes me between 24 and 25 min. I have decided to get back to what worked before and push myself a little and now I run it in 22 min, my question is in training the way I do should I take a day off a week or go by how I feel. My goal for this year is to run under 20 min. in a 5K. I am 47 years old.

By: Matt (NoMeatAthlete)

Matt (NoMeatAthlete) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:43:34 +0000

This is a question I’ve wondered about for a little while. I definitely feel like I need one day off per week, it’s the rest of the easy days that I’m not sure about. I’ve been doing a program with 3 workout days, 3 cross training days per week, and I think one of the reasons I got injured was because I was missing out on my old easy runs. So I’ve adapted it to replace most of the cross-training days with easy runs.

By: Wes

Wes — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:17:17 +0000

I MUST have my one day off a week. There is still beer to be consumed…

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:39:47 +0000

I ran two races this past weekend. A 5k on Saturday and a 7.5miler on Sunday. The week before i did some really hard training in Bar Harbor on the Carriage roads. I did take a day off before the races, but today (monday) i got out there feeling sluggish, but just did some easy running. I felt so much better.

I think its all based on how you feel. If you don’t want to don’t force yourself.

Great topic.