Rest days between runs on Beginner Running Program

by Steve H.
(Three Rivers, MI USA)

The beginner running programs you outline take up 3 days per week. That means you can have a 2 day rest period between runnings days somewhere in the week. Where would the 2 day rest period be most beneficial, generally speaking?

As the schedule goes, I've been taking the 2 days between the 2nd and 3rd day of the week. It seems to work alright for me.


I just wondered where most people see the biggest benefit from the 2 day rest, or where you thought it should be when you came up with the programs.

By the way, I'm doing the 10 week to 20 minutes program. 7 weeks down. So far so good! Haven't felt the need to back off at any time yet. The pace has been challenging, but well within my body's capability.

You have a great web site!


Answer by Dominique:


Hi Steve,
Thanks for your running training question. I am happy to see you have picked up one of my beginner running programs to start your running career. And it is good to see it is working out for you.

As far as the rest days goes, it is very flexible. When I put together the running programs I did not want to dictate when to rest, when not to rest etc. Many people have busy lifes nowadays.

I did not want you to feel like you couldn't start the programs if you had the feeling you could not fit in the schedule exactly as it was laid out.

Or that if at one point you could not follow the schedule exactly that you'd be discouraged and would think it would be better just to stop because you could not do it exactly as prescribed.

I know from my own experience that sometimes three days of running in a week means three days in a row and sometimes it is a bit more spread out. It can be very dependent on work, family and whatever else hits you in life.

I do advise to keep at least one day of rest between the three training days. But it is totally up to you when you take your extra day of rest. It sounds like what you have been doing so far is working for you, so I'd stick to that if I were you.

Great to hear that you enjoy Beginners Running Program 2 so far.


Best of luck with your running.
Cheers,
Dominique