# Runners, Bike Riders, etc. How often do you run? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 31, 2007, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177 "2007-05-31T11:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/1 "2007-05-31T11:38:26Z")
Better phrased: How often do you do your favorite form of exercise? ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/2 "2007-05-31T11:46:06Z")
I usually run three days a week, usually Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The midweek days are typically between 3-6 miles, and the weekend day I try to do a long run- 8 or 10 miles plus. As I get closer to a race, I go to three midweek days and increase the long day mileage. I also try to lift free weights two days a week, usually Monday & Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/3 "2007-05-31T13:39:08Z")
Currently, I’m rowing at least three times a week, occasionally four. I’ve been pretty slack the last couple of months, usually I’ll erg (machine row) one day and try to get a run in as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/4 "2007-05-31T13:45:26Z")
Depending on the weather (and how late I was working the night before), I’ll usually do the 20-35km round trip bike ride to my office three times a week. I’ve been busy every Saturday and Sunday this past month, but when I’m free I’ll usually do another 50km or so then. It’ll be at least July before I’m able to do that again, though. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/5 "2007-05-31T14:19:30Z")
When I used to run a lot, I’d run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday with long runs on Saturday, and an easy run on Sunday. So, 5 days a week. Lots of people run more, but I liked a couple days of rest each week. Currently, I’m biking about 4 days a week with maybe one run mixed in. I rest on Frirday and Sunday. Saturdays, I ride for 3-4 hours, though. I get in about 6 hours a week on the bike. My weekday rides are typically intense workouts, though. Not lollygags. Then, I usually go bowling one day a week (not really exercise), and other days I’ll walk 2-4 miles with and without the dog. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/6 "2007-05-31T14:22:11Z")
I work out with my trainer on Saturday and try to run Sun-Thurs, alternating between 5k and 1.5 miles. On the short days, I usually use my treadmill and do some upper body weights and ab work afterward. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/7 "2007-05-31T14:26:46Z")
I run at lunch while at work. So the most I will run is 5 days a week. Generally I average close to 4. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/8 "2007-05-31T14:40:23Z")
I run twice week. Or at least I_try_ to depending on if I’m doing other sports that take up my time. Other summer sports can take away my weekend run. I’m also trying to start a morning bike-riding regimen that I’d like to be a daily thing, but I’m not a morning person, so that’s only happening twice a week right now. I rock climb twice a week (even if it just means bouldering on my own for an hour). Sometimes three times a week, but more than that and I find the muscles in my hands get tired and I have trouble holding on. Final tally, is that I’m training a minimum of 5 days a week, doing one of the three things. ETA: I’m pondering training for a triathlon, but I’m nott sure I have time to train for it. It would be next year. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/9 "2007-05-31T15:21:20Z")
I bike whenever I can to work. 5.34 miles each way. Ice, snow, and thunderstorms stop me. I don’t bike on weekends much, kids, ya know? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/10 "2007-05-31T15:30:40Z")
I bike about 5 miles 2 or 3 times a week, though not in the winter. I also walk 3 miles or so a couple times a week. I’m usually quite leisurely about walking, and don’t do it for exercise, but I assume I’m getting some benefit anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/11 "2007-05-31T15:41:17Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] I bike whenever I can to work. 5.34 miles each way. Ice, snow, and thunderstorms stop me. I don’t bike on weekends much, kids, ya know? [/QUOTE] That’s “priorities”, not “kids”. I’m not critical of the decision. But, a lot of guys I ride with have kids, and they put in lots of hours on the bike on weekends. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/12 "2007-05-31T15:55:36Z")
Calling it my **favorite** activity might be a stretch. 🙂 Right now I’m running Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Saturday is my shorter but faster day. So I only do a mile but I run that as fast as I can. I’m just now getting back into my running so I’m taking it easy. Once I get back in stride (so to speak), I’ll up it to include Wednesday and a long run on Sunday. I always take Friday’s off as those are the nights when the Wife and I can get out for date night. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/13 "2007-05-31T16:10:01Z")
Ride handcycle 6 days/week. 75-110 miles total,Saturday off. Lift weights 6 days/week,Sunday off. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/14 "2007-05-31T16:23:03Z")
Walk 5 days/week, about 3-3.5 miles. Starting to jog again, keeping it 2-3 times per week, about 3 miles at a 10 minute pace. Jogging replaces a walk that day. Ride my bike pretty much every day - generally a 30-40 min rolling hills ride after work, call it 5-6 miles? On the weekends I do at least one longer ride, about 15 miles. Like SwallowedMyCellphone I’m kicking around the idea of a triathlon - I need to get my running distances back up (I was at about 10 miles cross-country when a hip injury put a stop to running) and my swimming is atrocious, that’s my biggest hurdle. Work out at home (chinups, pushups, dips, crunches, etc) every other day. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/15 "2007-05-31T16:23:04Z")
I don’t have a car, so I bike almost everywhere I go (where I don’t bike, I walk). But I live less than a mile from where I work, and I don’t generally bike just for the sake of biking, so it doesn’t add up to as much as it might. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/16 "2007-05-31T16:50:34Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] I don’t have a car, so I bike almost everywhere I go (where I don’t bike, I walk). But I live less than a mile from where I work, and I don’t generally bike just for the sake of biking, so it doesn’t add up to as much as it might. [/QUOTE] Oh, I should amend my answer. I also bike _everywhere_. So ten miles one direction and twenty the other and then home again is pretty normal fo rme. But I didn’t inlcude that in my mental tally of “training time”. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/17 "2007-05-31T16:59:07Z")
I do Triathlons so my week looks like this: Swim - 2x per week (one for distance and one for speed) Run - 3x per week (one for distance, one for speed, and one as a brick with the bike trainer ride) Bike - 2x per week (one long ride and one on the trainer [plus the run]) Strength - 1x per week (core body and swim cords, no weights) ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/18 "2007-05-31T17:04:06Z")
[QUOTE=Ol’Gaffer] I do Triathlons so my week looks like this: Swim - 2x per week (one for distance and one for speed) Run - 3x per week (one for distance, one for speed, and one as a brick with the bike trainer ride) Bike - 2x per week (one long ride and one on the trainer [plus the run]) Strength - 1x per week (core body and swim cords, no weights) [/QUOTE] Quickie hijack: How are you training for speed (running)? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/19 "2007-05-31T17:10:20Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] Quickie hijack: How are you training for speed (running)? [/QUOTE] When I do my 1.5 mile stuff, I utalize the treadmill a lot to keep upping the speed. I started off at 7.5 mph and have worked up to 9 mph for 8 minutes and 8.5mph for the last 2. For sprints I do some sprinting on the treadmill but mainly 3-5 sprints up a steep hill with rests in between. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177/20 "2007-05-31T17:21:59Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] Quickie hijack: How are you training for speed (running)? [/QUOTE] I do interval training based on time - basically one minute at high-intensity running followed by two minutes of low-intensity running…repeat…repeat… I actually had a pretty decent breakthrough a couple of weeks ago just out of the blue on my long run. My average minutes per mile dropped from 8:50 over 7.5 miles to 8:20. I actually thought that my watch had broken as I have never made that kind of jump before. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/runners-bike-riders-etc-how-often-do-you-run/406177.md?page=2)