How often do you take a day OFF??

ludwig wittgenstein wrote:

Off days are overrated. If your sick or injured, take a day off. If you're tired, take an easy day but don't take off. How is not running going to make you better at running? I'm a college runner doing between 90-110 mpw and I haven't taken an off day in 2 years.

People have different talent levels for staying healthy and younger people can always avoid injury easier.

Congrats on two years without a day off.

But wouldn't taking a day off before getting injured be better than taking a week off because you did get injured from pushing it too far?

Star wrote:

ludwig wittgenstein wrote:

Off days are overrated. If your sick or injured, take a day off. If you're tired, take an easy day but don't take off. How is not running going to make you better at running? I'm a college runner doing between 90-110 mpw and I haven't taken an off day in 2 years.

People have different talent levels for staying healthy and younger people can always avoid injury easier.

Congrats on two years without a day off.

But wouldn't taking a day off before getting injured be better than taking a week off because you did get injured from pushing it too far?

"younger people can always avoid injury easier."

maybe not, young people are strong and can burn themself out ....at 55 i'm not really strong enough to hurt my self

Wouldn't taking a day off before getting injured be better than taking a week off because you did get injured from pushing it too far?

Definitely, but you're begging the question. Instead of taking the day off I'll do a short, easy run. I think that this allows me to recover just as well or better than taking the day off, and makes me a slightly better runner as well.

None in over 11 years.

I generally take one day a week off but during summer sometimes took 2 to recover from hard sessions. Worked pretty well for me with a 1:50 800m.

Whenever I feel it's necessary. I don't like to do it, but if I'm still sore from a previous workout, I'll at least take a day super easy, if not off entirely.

^ This

daily runner wrote:

Wouldn't taking a day off before getting injured be better than taking a week off because you did get injured from pushing it too far?

Definitely, but you're begging the question. Instead of taking the day off I'll do a short, easy run. I think that this allows me to recover just as well or better than taking the day off, and makes me a slightly better runner as well.

This is not "begging the question". Begging the question is 'a petitio principii' - assuming that which needs to be proved - a logical fallacy also known as circular reasoning.

I think you may have meant "raising the question"

I haven't taken a day off since June 1, 2013. Most weeks I have 1 or 2 easy runs of 5-6 miles. If I'm really sore or tired, I'll only get a mile or two in. But overall, not taking an off day has really helped me mentally when it comes to making excuses not to run.

EZ10Miler wrote:

The runner's mind is geared toward "more more more". We're a self hating lot, that always thinks that if we "had just done X" then the race would have gone better, so we punish ourselves by bumping up our miles, by never missing a day, by now doing 2 a days, by severely restricting our diet.. We must do some form of penance!

When you feel guilty about taking one day of every week or so, try to take a deep breath and think about it sanely and ask yourself if that 4 mile shake out run is REALLY the only thing that's keeping you from hitting your mark. Chances are, it's not.

Shorter answer: I generally take 1 day off every week.

THIS. Spot on. When it comes to runners' dedication, I see three levels:

3) The lazy guy who just doesn't like to run and cowers at the thought of discomfort;

2) The "I never take days off" guy, who is still stuck in the high school mindset of "more is always better."

1) The smart runner, who knows when to push himself but also knows when to back off.

In my opinion, it takes far more dedication to be patient and smart than it does to run hard (although running hard is something even some talented top runners are afraid to do). The perfect example of someone who has mastered the art of running smart is Nick Arciniaga, who documents all of his training on Strava.

I only take days off if I'm sick or hurt. I usually go months at a time without any off days. I never really feel the need, but then again I only do 70-80 mpw. By contrast, when I experimented with 100 mile weeks I definitely felt the need to take regular days off.

Monday thru Sunday

all other days, I work out

Thorobred wrote:

Monday thru Sunday

all other days, I work out

I take one day off a week when training for a race. In a down period I take two/three just depends. I run before work so I get up at 3 to 3:30 am to get the miles in. I take the day off so I can sleep in one day. I do a couple of recovery runs at work each week too. I pretty much have to get the runs in before the kids/wife get up in the week. It is those early morning wake ups that make me tired more then anything. I am a 60-65mpw runner.