Is this too much exercise?

[addictedtorunning]

Curious as to how much exercise posters do and what form it takes?

I am in my early 50's and run 4 times a week, do yoga twice and Bodypump twice a week with some of the classes taking place on the same day. I take off Saturdays and Wednesdays but walk the dog every day. Have always been pretty fit and spent 20 years with horses and dogs (no longer have the horses).

This week I was useless at running club on one of the evenings and just wondered if I might be over doing it? Took a couple of days off completely and felt great today.

Anyone else found this?

[confusedandemployed]

I'm 43 and do similar. I don't think it's too much. Equally, sometimes you just need a couple of extra days off. No big deal.

[megletthesecond]

I don't think it's too much. I'm 42 and will be back to that when my dc's are teens and can be left home alone for a while.

[OublietteBravo]

I agree with confused - sometimes you just need a bit of extra downtime, but that doesn't mean you are doing too much.

I've had a couple of days off this weekend as I've been feeling under the weather. But I know I'll be back to exercising 6 days a week once I've kicked this cold.

[addictedtorunning]

I am so glad that you all say that, would absolutely hate to give up any of my classes or runs but I guess you just run out of puff some weeks.

Do any of you run and go to the gym too?

[confusedandemployed]

I do a mix of running, group fight classes, pump fit and lifting heavy weights in the gym. I get bored too easily to just do the same thing!

[ememem84]

32. And I ride once a week walk a lot and try to gym (actual gym and a couple of classes) 4 times a week.

[megletthesecond]

addict as much as a working totally lone parent can. In good weeks I can do two gym classes (usually pump and yoga), a short gym session and a parkrun. I mix it up all the time.

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

You've got a good mix of cardio, strength and flexibility and rest days in there.

It might be worth doing a monthly "rest week" with a gentler pace of activity to allow for recovery. Distance running programmes will use this principle with reduced milage and slower paces.

[addictedtorunning]

Ah yes the rest week, I keep forgetting to do that. Would you cut out classes or just run more slowly?

[addictedtorunning]

meglet that is brilliant that you manage to do so much under your circumstances.

[FacelikeaBagofHammers]

Definitely take a few days off. Listen to your body. How is your sleep, generally speaking?

I don't think on a weekly basis that would be too much, but possibly too much if you did that much exercise consistently throughout the year. Does that make sense?

Fair play though, I hope to also be as active as you as I get older!

[Delatron]

A sign of overtraining is reduced performance. So the fact you struggled in one of your runs is your body telling you something. I think it's recommended to have a week every so often where you really cut down all activity and have more rest days.
My body tells me when I train too much, I get very grumpy, tired and run badly!

[Anglaise1]

You are doing a good mix of exercise and age doesn't stop you! You should have at least one rest day. You don't say how long you run for? I'm in my early 50s and run about 80kms a week, sometimes with no rest day (I should cross train with bike or swimming but I don't enjoy either sport as much!).
As long as you are staying injury free then keep doing what you are doing.

[KatharinaRosalie]

Unless you run a marathon every day, sounds very reasonable to me.