Should You Run Every Day?
Are 12-24 hours of recovery time enough for you? Get-Fit Guy explains how to know when you’re ready to run on consecutive days.
Ben Greenfield
Running is an impact-based activity that can be stressful to your joints and result in tiny muscle tears. Often, just 12-24 hours of recovery from a run is not ample time to allow this damage to heal, and cumulative days of consecutive running can cause sprains, strains, or other injuries.
This is particularly true if you are a novice runner or are overweight. If you are new to running, then you may run less efficiently and produce more joint load than a seasoned running veteran. And if you are overweight, you will create more impact in your joints with each step. So in either of these cases, it’s a good idea not to run on consecutive days.
However, if you are used to running frequently, have efficient form, are being smart about recovery, and can finish a run without feeling like you just went through several rounds with Mike Tyson, you’ve probably got what it takes to run on consecutive days. Many professional marathoners not only run on consecutive days, but also run twice a day on consecutive days for many days of the week!
Get more running tips at How To Start Running and How To Run Faster.
If you have more questions about running, post them at the Get-Fit Guy Facebook page.
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.