How many days/wk do you run?

[Raggedeannie]

I'm registered for a half on May 4 and have been increasing mileage on Saturdays for a little while, with short (3.5mi) runs on Monday and Wednesday.

I've been comparing half training plans and see that the Nike beginner's plan has runs 4 days a week and then 5 days a week closer to race day, including a Tuesday longer run.

Should I be looking to up my running frequency during the week or looking for a longer mileage mid week run?

[kams]

When I'm in a run-specific cycle, I am running 5-6 days. I have been really lucky to be able to run that frequently without injury - 4 works better for a lot of people.

RIght now I am running 3x a week in this training cycle. I have to admit, I really like it (running is totally my weakness)

[Deleted]

I really like 4 days for both maintenance and training.

[cinco]

I usually run 5, DH does 3 but cross trains more

[runaways]

I do 4-5 depending on what's going on...if it's 4, I'll do longer midweek runs to accommodate.

[Deleted]

I do 4. At the moment it is this (which I call 'level four'):
Monday 4 miles
Wednesday 8 miles
Thursday 4 miles
Weekend 14 miles or thereabouts increasing to 20-22 (I took the suggestion of the ladies here to mix this up a bit, next weekend is a fallback long run of 12 miles)

Soon I will reach peak, which I call level five (5 - 8 - 5 mile mid week, plus a long run). I like to call it level # because it makes me feel like I am improving my distance and accomplishing something. (Works for me).

If I was training for a half I would run four times a week, more so because I like the 'me time' than anything else. I work from home so it's important to get out of the house as I am otherwise sedentary.

[gummybear]

I've had the most success with 3 days of running and 2 days of cross training.

[Raggedeannie]

This is helpful!! I think I will see about adding in a Tuesday Thursday run and see how it goes. This would still allow for cross training on Thursdays and Sundays, and Friday rest.

ETA: Meant to say Thursday, not Tuesday.  So I would have M,W, Th, Sat runs.

[labbie]

I'm in a base-building phase with my goal to balance running and cross training, and remain injury free. So far what's working well for me is to run 3 days, crosstrain (strength/other cardio/core) 3 days, and 1 day rest.  I am only running about 15 miles a week right now, and about 6-8 of that on my "long" run on Sundays.

[coconutbug]

When I'm training for a running race (not tri), I aim for 4 days of running and cross train on 1-2 other days.

[gt7301b]

I think the Nike plans suck and have too many miles for a beginner, but that is just my opinion.

I usually workout 6 days a week, with 4-5 running days and 1-2 cross training days. I also usually do strength and yoga at least one day a week.

[G22]

3-5 days of running and 2 cross training days when I'm training for anything.

When I'm just maintaining and not really training for anything, its 3 days of running and 1-2 cross training days.

[clseale]

I run 5 days a week. Sometimes there are peak weeks of marathon training where I will run 6, but 5 is pretty standard for me.

[Susie]

I do best keeping running to 3 days/week, and cross training (or swim/bike) the rest. 4 running days/week seems to invite injury, and 5 won me a stress fracture 2 years ago. I haven't tried it since.

[Raggedeannie]

Feb 2, 2014 13:25:15 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I think the Nike plans suck and have too many miles for a beginner, but that is just my opinion.

I usually workout 6 days a week, with 4-5 running days and 1-2 cross training days. I also usually do strength and yoga at least one day a week.

Thanks for this - the Nike plan does have way more miles than other beginner plans I have looked at. I don't like the idea of running on Friday, the day before my long run, either.

[sadlebred]

None.

[patches31709]

I'm currently following a slightly modified Hal Higdon intermediate plan. Some weeks are 4 runs a week and some are 5. I was definitely better prepared for the half I did where I had run 4 days a week in training. I picked this plan because I'm hoping the weeks where I get 5 runs in are beneficial, and if I only get 4 in, it isn't the end of the world.

[agswife]

Anywhere from 3-5.

[andrealynn]

Spring and summer (ie racing season) 4-5. Off season more like 3 with a couple days lifting.

[andrealynn]

Spring and summer (ie racing season) 4-5. Off season more like 3 with a couple days lifting.

[bostonmichelle]

I run 3 days a week and that's about it. I'm going to start doing some wii workouts 1-2 days a week as well for some cross training. When I start training for my 10k and half I'll probably start running 4 times a week. Maybe once I get more experience under my belt I'll try running more often but I'm worried about injuring myself by doing too much too fast.

[skwcm80]

3 days typically, but I'm 6 weeks into a training plan that calls for 4 days of running. So far, so good ( knock on wood).

[jchokie79]

I'm also training for a Half on May 4th. My training plans has me running 4 times a week and I add in a cross training day.

[rjamz]

3-4 days a week, usually.

[brooke77]

I run 5 days per week. More than that and I get injured.

[libbygrl109]

3-4 days a week. I did have better long runs when I got all of my mid-week run in. I have added a day of cross-training this time around.

[archaeominx]

During marathon training, I was running 5 days a week but it was starting to be too much. For my next half, I'm doing 4 days a week with 2 days of cross training and one day of total rest. My knee is definitely handling it better with this current plan.

[water*drop]

I do 3-4 - usually 3 for the first half of my half plans and then 4 for the last half. I walk a lot every day, and I try to cross train regularly. I'd prefer 4 days all the time, but between just being busy and my toddler bringing every single illness home from daycare, even getting 3 running days is a struggle sometimes.

[gt7301b]

Feb 2, 2014 14:41:57 GMT -5 Raggedeannie said:

Feb 2, 2014 13:25:15 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

I think the Nike plans suck and have too many miles for a beginner, but that is just my opinion.

I usually workout 6 days a week, with 4-5 running days and 1-2 cross training days. I also usually do strength and yoga at least one day a week.

Thanks for this - the Nike plan does have way more miles than other beginner plans I have looked at. I don't like the idea of running on Friday, the day before my long run, either.

I usually end up moving around workouts in my plan to work with my schedule and I always make Friday my rest day, even if the plan doesn't call for a Friday rest day.

[mrshandy]

I run 5 days a week for now. But I kind of like the idea of 4 days a week and one cross train day. The problem is I don't really have any cross training activities that I love. I think I need to get a bike or something.