How long without running before you start to lose fitness?

2 weeks off is nothing, especially at this time. You will regain fitness pretty fast after only two weeks off. Take your rest, get healed, and don't worry about losing fitness because you really won't lose a significant amount.

I agree.

If you're an elite athlete whose times actually mean something, by all means, hop in the pool and get yourself to cross-train.

Otherwise, dude, take it easy, even if it's 6-8 weeks, you'll gain it back.

It's about 5 days before you lose anything at all, VO2-wise (from a table in either "Lore" or Daniels, I don't remember which). After that it drops accordingly. The good thing is is that it comes back pretty quickly. The shorter breaks are nice, since you come back nice and fresh. And ya, xtraining will help keep the aerobic side up pretty well.

In the meantime, u kan taik teh brake and lern to spel ("fase").

I think runners are sometimes too worried about how much they will lose from time off, I've had to take 2 weeks off twice in the past 12 months and each time didn't get noticeably less fit - the worst effect is getting out of the "swing" of making time for running every day.

I'd cross train via cycling as it's mentally similar to running and 2 weeks of doing no activity would drive me up the wall. but I wouldn't worry too much.

And remember-2 weeks of no running will work wonders for all those tiny niggles you may have.

10 minutes!

Seriously, watch what you eat as you are no longer burning calories at the same rate. If walking doesn't stress the injury, maintain your schedule by walking the same length of time. It seems gay at first, but maintains your schedule and can actually be enjoying, as you notice things about your surroundings that have gone unnoticed for years as you ran past so fast.

Relax and stay positive.

Just imagine its summer recovery time after tough winter season. You will soon get back to previous peak condition- just start regular training and enjoy a stress free summer base phase. Start speedwork sessions around end july and gradually start to increase mileage ready for fall racing.

Dont panic just prepare mind and body for tough season ahead

Dr. Timothy Noakes, who wrote the medical compenndium on running called "Lore of Running", found that no serious decline in VO2max occurs in elite runners until about 14 days of no training. So, taking 2 weeks off won't hurt you that much cardiovascularly, but getting your muscles used to the exertion of running again can be a pain in the butt.

How about if you are ill rather than injured or just taking time off.

Does illness sap fitness quicker during the same period?

I've become an expert in this due to compartment syndrome the last 6 years. Time off is relative. I use elliptical, bike, etc. But for me I notice around 3 weeks I start to really slow down