Many runners feel like they need to run most days in order to get the mileage they need for training or they just love the mental health benefits a daily run can provide. Run streaking has also become a common “challenge” in recent years. But is it really ok to run every day? Let’s find out.
It is ok to run every single day with the right approach. To run safely every day, training needs to include mostly easy running as well as recovery runs complemented with strength training and proper sleep. However, there are concerns you need to be aware of to avoid injury or mental burnout.
Here I’ll discuss how someone can safely run every day as well as when cutting back a bit might be the better alternative for some runners.
Who Can Benefit From Running Every Day
I’m willing to bet it’s very rare to find someone who truly runs every day without ever taking a break. I think you’ll find runners who go on a “streak” of sorts (no, not that kind of streak) where they run every day for a certain period of time – say, maybe for the whole month of January or something. My husband has done that – even if some of the days were only 1 mile.
I want to look into the safety of running every day but also consider that 6 days per week is a lot more sustainable for the long-term. A lot of people who are essentially looking to run every day maybe only average 6 days per week over a period of time.
But who are the people who actually might do well running every day or close to it?
Endurance Athletes
Many people are shocked when they find out that I run 6 days per week. Especially since almost all of my runs during those training periods are 5 miles or more. But for someone with lofty running goals in the marathon space, to me, it’s a non-negotiable (provided I’m not sick or nursing any sort of injury). And the truth is that many athletes never take a true rest day at all.
Rest days are widely regarded as an important part of training. Though it doesn’t really feel like it, this is often where the magic happens in terms of building a faster and stronger body. But there are a lot of endurance athletes who choose to run every day during training – or at least during their peak weeks with the highest mileage.
People Who Depend on Running for Mental Health
If you’re anything like me, the days you don’t run you just feel blah. Unless I have a day that’s completely packed I definitely feel better overall when I run (or do a different type of workout) and usually do what I can to squeeze it in.
Like so many other runners, I depend a lot on running for keeping my stress level and anxiety in check. If something is weighing heavily on my mind, going for a run always helps with that. It also helps me refocus if I need a break from work making me more productive overall.
This article from Cigna discusses the benefits of running on mental health. I definitely agree with all of their points! They mention its effect on sleeping, too – which is another major reason why people put running into their daily routine.
People Looking to Build a Habit Through a “Run Streak”
Run streaks have become more and more popular. Because of the influence of social media in our lives, many people may choose to do a run streak when they see their favorite influencer promoting it.
I would say these happen a lot in the new year, or maybe right before or after a holiday that includes a lot of pigging out.
People who are struggling with their motivation to run or just want to start building a habit may choose to partake in a run streak. Ultimately, they’ll choose a set number of days to complete their run streak, and then run every day until the timeframe is up.
Often times, however, people completing run streaks only require themselves to run a minimum of 1 mile. These people are perhaps running a lot lower mileage than someone who is, say, running every day as part of marathon training. You’re a lot less likely to face an injury if several of your running days are in the 1-2 mile range. People do this safely all the time. This list from the United States Running Streak Association (yes, it’s a thing) proves it. Some of these people have run every day for over 40 years!!
How to Safely Run Every Day
We’ve learned that running everyday can help with building endurance and boosting mental health – which are definitely positive! But there is a right way and a wrong way to go about running every day.
So is running every day truly safe? How do these runners do this without breaking down their bodies?
Many runners have shown that they can safely run every day. Here’s how they do it.
Running Mostly Easy
The key here is that they know how to SLOW DOWN. Safe daily running comes from building a high volume of “easy paced” miles into training. So instead of a rest day truly being filled with rest, runners who are committed to running every day may run a few (slow for them) miles. If you honor this 80/20 process (where 80% of a runner’s miles are at an easy pace) that I’ve discussed previously in length here, you can continue to run every day while staying injury-free.
(My 20-something self definitely could have used this easy running guidance!)
Seasoned runners realize how important incorporating lots of easy miles into their training is. If you want to run daily and in a safe manner, most of your running needs to be done at an easy pace.
Not sure what your easy pace is? Here’s the best way to know that you’re running easy:
- you can breathe through your nose
- holding a conversation is easily doable
- it’s 2-3 minutes slower per mile than your 5k race pace
- if you’re used to heart rate training, you should be about 60 – 70% of your max heart rate
This training pace calculator from Runner’s World will give you a good starting point for the paces you should be running at for your easy runs. Ultimately though, you should also learn to pay attention to body signs and going off how you feel.
Including Short Recovery Runs
Running easy is the number one thing you can do to incorporate running every day in your fitness journey and this can be taken to the next level a couple of times per week where you’ll be running EXTRA easy. With the recovery run you are able to still get in your daily run, but in a way that prioritizes recovering from the other miles you are logging on other days of the week.
For a recovery paced run, you really can’t go too slowly. Consider your easy pace, and then slow it down a couple notches from there (we’re talking 30 – 90 seconds per mile slower perhaps!) And don’t be afraid to include walk breaks on these recovery days as well.
If you want to run daily long-term, you’re going to have to get comfortable with implementing 2-3 very short and very slow runs into your weekly routine.
RELATED: The Importance of Recovery Runs in Marathon Training
Adding in Strength Training
Though running every day is great for cardiovascular health and staying fit, the repetitive motion ultimately ignores certain areas of the body. This creates an imbalance with opposing muscle groups and can lead to injury – especially due to the high-impact nature of running.
Strength training ensures that your muscles, tendons, joints and bones can remain strong even with daily running. Essentially it will make you a more durable runner that can log many miles day after day while avoiding injury. Not sure where to start with strength training? Don’t worry – it doesn’t have to include lifting a bunch of heavy weights or require a ton of time. My recommendation is to start with bodyweight exercises targeted to the most common weak areas that runners experience. Here is a video I put together that includes my favorite Bodyweight Exercises for Runners.
Getting Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is your number one recovery tool. Though foam rolling, pre-run dynamic stretching and post-run stretching are all great to keep your body feeling fresh and ready to go, nothing you do will counteract poor sleep habits.
Now, I’m not talking about a bad night of sleep here or there…we all have those. But if you want to run everyday, in order to continue doing so in a healthy manner, you need to make sure you are getting the proper amount of sleep. Sleep needs vary from person to person, but more active individuals will need more.
According to Run Wild Retreats, adults should sleep for 1 hour of every hour that they are awake PLUS one minute for each mile run during the week. So if you run 30 miles per week, you should be tacking on an extra 30 minutes of sleep every night in order to recover appropriately.
I share more in this video!
Concerns Related to Running Everyday
Running daily can be done in a healthy way. Ensuring you’re following the guidelines above will help you run every day safely. But is there anything runners should worry about if they want to run daily?
Ultimately, if you’re paying attention to signs your body is giving you and heeding those by taking a day off when you need it, then there really isn’t any negative to running every day. If it’s something that you enjoy doing and makes you feel good, then that’s great! What I think happens sometimes, however, is that people push through just to get their daily run in when they probably shouldn’t be.
DON’T Push Through Your Run When You’re Sick or Injured
One of the worst things a runner can do is to continue running through pain or sickness.
Overuse injuries are all too common, and they will creep up very quickly if you’re running too hard, too often. If any niggle starts to pop up, that’s a sign you need to back off. Though a little head cold generally doesn’t require someone to skip a run, there are a lot of sicknesses where running through them is a bad idea. Your body needs extra rest when you’re sick or even nursing minor injuries. Running through those just to get in your daily run isn’t smart.
DON’T Suddenly Start Running Daily
Running every day is something you need to work up to. Going from a few days per week up running daily with no break is a recipe for injury. Plus, it’s likely not going to be sustainable attempting it that way because you’ll likely get burnt out.
DON’T Run Every Day as a “Requirement”
If you’re running every day, it’s important to consider if you’re doing it because you HAVE to or because you WANT to. Sure, if you’re in training mode, daily running will probably feel like a chore sometimes. But ultimately, you know the goal you’re seeking makes it all worth it. (And I strongly recommend taking several days off after your big race to recuperate – which you can look forward to.)
On the other hand, if you’re running every day out of a place of guilt, that’s not a healthy place to be. Or if you’re doing it simply because you think you’ll lose fitness or gain weight by taking a day off once in a while…well, that’s simply not true.
Ulitmately, you have to do what’s best for you – not anyone else. You know when you’re pushing too hard or doing something simply to please someone else. If you feel like you need a day off – then take one! I take one every single week.
Why I Only Run 6 Days Per Week
The most I have ever run was in my last marathon training cycle. I only took 4 days off the entire month. In my current lead up to my Boston Marathon, I will probably have a month or two that look the same. So, even though I have run every day before – maybe up to 10 days in a row, I have never run every day consistently.
So, why don’t I run every day if I enjoy it and have lofty goals?
I believe strongly in rest days both from a physiological as well as mental standpoint. Though it may just feel like I’m being lazy, I know how important recovery is for staying a healthy runner for life. You can also see gains in your training that you might not otherwise! As stated in this article from Mcmillan Running, “Taking a rest day also allows your body to absorb the training you have been doing and you may actually see a fitness boost following a day of rest. ”
I also don’t ever want to get burnt out from running! It’s something I want to continue to love. I think taking breaks from it now again to focus on something else is important in a running journey.
For me, personally, running every day would be forced. Though I’m sure I’d be completely fine getting in an extra mile on a rest day at a very easy pace, what would be the point? If you are someone who really wants to run every day, then you should do that! Or if your particular race goal warrants a daily training cycle, then by all means (and then take a break when your A race is complete!) But, if you’re only doing it because you think you should or feel pressure to do so, then I’d say it’s time to pull back.
I always enjoy a rest day off from running. And if I feel the need to move my body, I do something else. Walking with my family, doing extra strength training or fitting in a yoga class are excellent substitutes.
