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How Important are Rest Days?

Great question that I was asked about the importance of rest days for runners.

It really depends on how much you’re running AND what you’re doing while not running? Are you getting 8 hours of sleep nightly or 6?

Are you eating enough protein and calories or not?

How’s your daily physical activity? Daily stress? Are you on your feet a lot or sitting?

All of this comes in to play when taking rest days into consideration. People running a lot but also who rest well can get away with fewer rest/off days, but people like the ER nurse I coach absolutely need a few days of no running because when she’s on her feet for a 12 hour shift that’s still physical activity!

Rest days? What do you think I’m doing when I’m sleeping?!.” – Click to Tweet!

Rest is not a weapon, it’s a shield | Adam Virgile at Shakebot | Interesting study looking at soccer players, injury rates, and periods of rest.