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So I’m training for my first half marathon this September. Training is going really well, I plain to run my first “training” 13.1 tomorrow. However I have a question, I have read that it is a good idea to take days off to recover (two good days of training with a brake between> three mediocre day in a row) so my question is what kinds of workout should I do on my “Day off” from running? I really need to be burning those calories to keep with my weight loss goal but I want to maximize my training. Any suggestions? I’ve heard yoga/Pilates can be a good idea but does that burn many calories?
Hi,
I do High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on a stairmaster or bicycle - anything to get the stress off my lower legs. You only have to really do it for 30 mins - trust me that is all you will be able handle. It burms fat and gives you the added training boost that you need.
I also think you should do some weight training to augment your running. I use the New Rules of Lifting for Women program and it has made me a better runner.
Good Luck.
Congratulations on your training! Are you training with a group? I'm on my second round of training for a half, and have thrown in 3 - 5 bike workouts per week. I take it easy on run nights, with no biking on high intensity nights (2 nights per week).
I do high intensity on my days off, as well as 2 - 1 hour Pilates classes per week. The cycling burns calories, but the Pilates is more for strengthening my core, and upper body muscles - I've found that my upper body gets fatigued more quickly than my lower in long races (over 10K), so I'm going to try to squeeze in 3x30 min. upper body at the gym.
Most of my racing buddies (and some are shooting for a sub 3:00 at Boston) keep a mix of gym (3 -4 x /week), cycling and/or swimming (2 - 5x per week), and 4 - 5 X per week running, with one high intensity run, and one speedwork (track sprints) session, 2 recovery runs, and one long run per week.
I hope that helps.
Have fun at your first half! It's a really great distance.
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