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Rest Days (Runners/Gymers)

post #1 of 20
7/7/09 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 
How do you guys handle your rest days? Do you not do any strenuous activity? How many per week? How "hardcore" are you with your workouts? Any particular day you choose and why? Do you wait until you're tired to rest or is it set in your routine?

I usually rest on Fridays when I'm working, as I'm burnt after a long week. Sometimes if I feel up to it, I'll run on Friday and then take another weekday plus the next Friday off.
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post #2 of 20
7/7/09 at 7:37pm
Erm...depends what I'm doing on the track. Generally, rest days are a one or two mile run before breakfast and stretching.

It's hard to answer without typing out the program. I think in general 'light activity' should be the prescription for most decently-trained individuals. I'd stay away from walking as a 'light activity' because it tends to tighten up the posterior chain and -- for me at least -- tends to degrade the neural strength/power from training. In other words, it 'unlearns' how to sprint and lift properly.
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post #3 of 20
7/7/09 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by why View Post
Erm...depends what I'm doing on the track. Generally, rest days are a one or two mile run before breakfast and stretching.

It's hard to answer without typing out the program. I think in general 'light activity' should be the prescription for most decently-trained individuals. I'd stay away from walking as a 'light activity' because it tends to tighten up the posterior chain and -- for me at least -- tends to degrade the neural strength/power from training. In other words, it 'unlearns' how to sprint and lift properly.


yeah it's complicated. I technically haven't had a rest day in about 9 days now.
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post #4 of 20
7/7/09 at 8:11pm
While I don't follow it religously, I been doing some form of Crossfit since 2003. They advocate a 3 days on/1 day off cycle and usually recommend a full week off every 12 weeks or so. I probably take a few more days off than that as I'm older (45). I honestly don't usually feel tired/run down, but I figure at my age, I should be getting more rest. In the last month, I've been doing Crossfit Endurance which is Crossfit with additional cardio (often intervals). It's very intense.

On my rest days, I might walk with my wife or do some mountain biking. Listen to your body. I often find that I come back very strong after a full week of rest. It takes a while to get fit and it would take a while to lose your fitness too.
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post #5 of 20
7/11/09 at 12:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayland View Post
While I don't follow it religously, I been doing some form of Crossfit since 2003. They advocate a 3 days on/1 day off cycle and usually recommend a full week off every 12 weeks or so. I probably take a few more days off than that as I'm older (45). I honestly don't usually feel tired/run down, but I figure at my age, I should be getting more rest. In the last month, I've been doing Crossfit Endurance which is Crossfit with additional cardio (often intervals). It's very intense.

On my rest days, I might walk with my wife or do some mountain biking. Listen to your body. I often find that I come back very strong after a full week of rest. It takes a while to get fit and it would take a while to lose your fitness too.

Great advice here. Everyone's body will react different to the fitness program they are on, and likewise everyone needs less/more rest than the next man.
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post #6 of 20
7/11/09 at 10:59pm
i never have a true rest day. i lift 4-5 days, run 3x a week, play basketball twice a week and swim a few times a week. wouldn;t know what to do on a true off day.
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post #7 of 20
7/11/09 at 11:04pm
Thread Starter 
^^sometimes my body just screams for one...you know, bed at 8:30 after a long day, after 10 in a row...but I hear ya. I usually work myself into the ground before I rest, and then I have days where I'm kinda tired, push through a workout, ad feel GREAT the next few days...
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post #8 of 20
7/11/09 at 11:08pm
^yeah, only time i get rest is when an injury forces me to. i usually do feel great after the rare day off. even on theoretically scheduled off days, i invariably wind up at the gym late at night.
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post #9 of 20
7/12/09 at 9:33pm
I do cardio and weight training six days a week (alternating upper and lower body) and always take a rest day (usually Sunday). And I use the word "rest" quite literally: I do no exercise at all.
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post #10 of 20
7/12/09 at 10:07pm
on days when i'm not lifting, i'll usually run a lazy 5k unless extra tired/sore.
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post #11 of 20
7/12/09 at 10:39pm
I hate the feeling of a complete rest day. My muscles get tight and I never feel good the next day. I'd much rather do just a few easy miles of jogging and maybe a bit of stretching as my easy day - I do this once a week. As long as I have one light day each week, I can run everyday for weeks at a time and keep feeling good.
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post #12 of 20
7/12/09 at 10:40pm
I should add that I only do 3 hard days per week - the rest is just mileage at whatever pace feels comfortable. And running is pretty much my only exercise, so this may not apply to gym stuff.
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post #13 of 20
7/27/09 at 7:57pm
Huh. I'm doing starting strength M,W,F, but have energy to work out in some form on the off days. I'd run, but I worry that would work against strength gains. Is that the case? Would it be overkill to do non-SS lifting Tuesday and Thursday, then row or run on weekends?
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post #14 of 20
7/27/09 at 8:05pm
I workout every other day. On rest days I don't avoid activity and still play basketball/football/ etc. I can't remember the last time I've avoided strenuous activity for a whole day.
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post #15 of 20
7/27/09 at 8:28pm
I'll rest when the joints hurt for some reason or another. I usually whore myself out on styleforum on rest days.
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