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should i train every day
andyb99
Posts: 229
in General Chat
Is it wise to train every day or should i force myself into rest days??
in a week my training looks like this
monday 45 min swim
tuesday 3 mile run morning evening 45 min swim
wednesday 10k bike ride
thursday 3 mile run
friday 45 min swim
saturday 3 mile run
sunday 10k bike ride
this can obviously change the order in which i do things but should i stick to doing 2 disciplines in one day and then having a day of in between or do you think its better to train every day.
My distances are not particularly long but i've only just started training and am training for liverpool supersprint so i'm doing race distance in each section.
thoughts?
in a week my training looks like this
monday 45 min swim
tuesday 3 mile run morning evening 45 min swim
wednesday 10k bike ride
thursday 3 mile run
friday 45 min swim
saturday 3 mile run
sunday 10k bike ride
this can obviously change the order in which i do things but should i stick to doing 2 disciplines in one day and then having a day of in between or do you think its better to train every day.
My distances are not particularly long but i've only just started training and am training for liverpool supersprint so i'm doing race distance in each section.
thoughts?
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If I feel good, I train, if I feel tired, I might change the planned session slightly, and if I'm exhausted and can't face doing what I've planned, I'll either skip the planned session and do something else, or do nothing at all. On top of that, there are inevitably other things that'll get in the way of training and I'll be forced to miss a session; it'd be impossible to plan rest days around the unknown.
I do, however, adjust my training volume over the course of a 4 week training block, building in active recovery, rather than inactive rest. The only time I do plan for rest is in the lead up to a race - and then, it'll only be a day or two.
Just to critique your training - relative to your running, you're spending very little time on the bike. Given that bike work is low impact and usually represents the larger part of the time/distance in an event, I'd say you'd benefit from increasing that.
Personally speaking I think rest days are important. It's when you recover, adapt, grow following your training.
I look to have one day off a week over a three week period, and then two off during the fourth week, when I also cut the volume down.
I agree about the bike..Maybe look to doing three bikes a week or at least make one ride a long ride - say on Sunday. Ideally you want to be able to go double the distance that you're racing (unless you're doing an Ironman!)
Maybe mix your runs up a bit as well. Do one longer run - building up to 5 or six miles. Keep one shorter but a bit faster than your normal 3 mile.
And break your swim into intervals..don't just do the distance you have to swim on the day. Similar to the other two I'm making sure I can go over distance in the swim. It will help build your endurance but also give you confidence.
Not sure when your race is but also look to doing a brick bike/run every week just to get used to running off the bike.
Just a few thoughts that have helped me in my training.
Certainly I'd say yes to rest days. Sometimes it's hard to take a day off and you feel you're losing fitness but you are actually helping yourself become fitter.
Best of luck.
I have at least two rest days most weeks, out of necessity due to time pressure, not for any training reason and it doesn't seem to make much difference as far as I can tell.
thanks for the advice though guys, i'll plan on a rest day a week at least.
one more Q, if i start running and my hamstring feels tight....should i stop or try and run through it???...i played footy for 30 years and never suffered from hamstring problems so its a new one on me....i carried on and it eased but that could make it worse right??
by the way, this is a great sport, i'm really looking forward to doing the small one (just so i can learn the ropes) then move up to sprint (i hope).
However, you should also look at the cause: are you over-striding? Have you got the wrong shoes for your running style?
Bare in mind that coming off the bike, you'll likely have tight hamstrings anyway, so anything you can do now to try improve that and prevent injury, is definitely worth doing.
Seriously though - you should stop and do stretch it, then start again. If it comes back repeat. If you've had to do that more than 5 times it's probably time to walk for 5 mins then try and start again.
I find the best stretch for a hamstring is:
both feet flat on floor side by side. Put left foot forward on floor keeping right foot flat on floor to make an upside down Y with your body; feet should point directly forwards. Bend the left knee keeping the right foot flat on the floor. If you can't feel any tension, bend your torso forwards over your left leg, keeping your torso facing forwards, not to one side. I got this from a physiotherapist I saw years ago and it's always worked for me since.