Is it ok to run every day?

[Saxophonedelight]

I've decided to try and run every day. I'm a bit overweight - probably 2 stone to lose - and not that fit although I do try to go to the gym a few times a week.

If I started very slowly, would it be terrible to run every day?

At the start you might be better to go every second day, as your muscles will need to rest and recover between runs.

I can't recommend the Couch 2 5k schedule highly enough- it's 3 runs per week. I used a Zen Labs app because I'm not in the UK but I believe the NHS couch25k app is great.

You could do a bit of yoga or Pilates on the non-run days, it helps too.

Good luck whatever you decide!

C25K is a brilliant programme.

Yes, you could try it daily, but I suggest that in the early weeks you repeat a run for a few days, Esther than rocketing through the programme faster because you're doing it more than 3 days a week.

I'd suggest each run twice, with individual day off a week (go for a walk instead?) because time off is helpful in the long run (rest and repair).

As you get stronger (towards the end of C25K) you'll be more attuned to how much is a good idea.

Taking it slowly also means you really do strengthen up properly, with much lower risk of overuse injuries.

I’m trying to exercise every day. Doing couch to 5K on alternate days as recommended but then doing other exercise on the days in between - a Pilates type class/ spinning class/ swimming and or a dance/ yoga video at home. I find the mixture good so far. The spinning is making me push myself once a week; swimming and yoga etc help me feel stretched and like my full body has been exercised; dance is really working my arms too and is fun! Could that work for you, so exercise every day instead of run every day?

Ive started running every work day at lunch. Just two miles, twenty minutes. I then run longer on Saturdays and have Sunday off.

Lots of (very wise) people will advise against it, but likewise loads of people will say running every day is fine. Google run streaks. There are tales of people who go on streaks from their first runs.

Dh double or even triple runs some day. Hes had to work up to that over years obvs, but if you took it very gently at first i say go for it.

Running every day is fine for experienced runners who can modify the effort of their running. Rest is important, but when you're used to longer or faster runs, a short, gentle run is an appropriate recovery activity.

For a novice, I would (and once did) start with C25k and the recommended 3 runs per week as a maximum. Being more frequent than that isn't worth the risk of injury as your body adjusts to running.