How to 'Double Run Day' (and are they worth it?)

It's something i've been dabbling with recently - how to double run day (and are they worth it). Originally it was all borne out necessity as I have had to split busy days up to make them work but the more I looked in to the benefits the more I thought that it was something that may be able to work for me! So this week we chat through what a double run day actually is. The advantages and disadvantages. And what to take in to account and how to plan for them.

00:00 - Intro
00:17 - What is a double run day
03:18 - Advantages/Disadvantages
05:27 - How to plan a double run day
09:19 - Conclusion

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[edwin]

I like going harder on my second, making it shorter too

[andy-townsend]

I love how Winnie always runs without looking where she's going, just looking back to check on yah! :)

[kallumwright]

Although the consensus is to do the harder sessions in the morning I've always found it really good to do a very light recovery effort in the morning. Wakes my legs up and I tend to have a great session that night.

[mandyparrialeblanc]

Been binge watching all of your older videos. This is a great channel. I love doing any easy run before work and then my regular run afterwards whenever possible. Gives me a few extra miles and brightens my mornings.

[granthine]

Only just subscribed, but a previous video where Mary held her fingers in a mudra to relax while running really works. I meditate a lot but never thought to hold a hand mudra while running. Thank you for that.

[neilupton]

Such a good channel. Been watching / subscribed for a long while now. Love being able to dip in and out as my running journey gets longer and longer with videos from the past that are more relevant to me now than they were before.

[connorgreene]

Ah loved this video Ben, thanks so much. Looking forward to Sunday already. 👍

[avinashbhogun]

I ran as part of a relay in 2019, Hood To Coast. As part of my training I had to run twice a day 'doubles'. I honestly hated this but this did serve me well for the relay i.e. running six times within 24-hours. Before this event and to-date I have not run twice a day. My osteopath didn't advise this. But it was a good experience and this video gives excellent guidance.

[chrispiper]

Great video. Love the editing as much as the content !

[eddiegaul]

I agree with your assessments on double runs. I've been at it for a while and I don't really use them for a training stimulus. I've done double runs when I've raced in the morning or done some sort of workout in the morning and need to literally run an errand. The second run is almost always less than 5K -- it is pure junk miles. Sometimes I've done them too if I am bored and just need to get out of the house. But they are adhoc and done when I have time / energy / motivation. They definitely do increase your risk of injury and burnout.

[lauradryden]

Done double runs in the past when I commuted to and from the station. Always used to struggle on the second run, but generally find evening runs harder anyway. It’s a great way to get in extra mileage though.

[bgvanbur]

I have been in several run streaks and my routine is run every morning, and sometimes would go to an evening group run before covid so would run those morning miles easy (and ensure I kept my streak in case I couldn't make the group run).
And when training for ultras, I would actually do a 100+ mile week with triples (early morning long run, short lunch break run, easy long run after the kids went to bed). I would go longest on Monday and make it a bit shorter each day so each day felt about the same effort since gradually having more and more tired legs.

[sjauk]

As a runner of less than two years experience, I couldn't manage a double run but I found that I could manage twelve (hourly) mini-runs that added up to way more. I have upped my weekly mileage from 35 km into the 100 km region! I am not convinced that your list of CONS applies to mini-runs.

[hormonalhealthinstitute]

I used the double run while training for Ultra so I could do the second run on pre-fatigued / stiff legs. Fun! Not really! haha

[matthewconrad-jones]

Great video, what do you think about doing a late night and early morning session, same effect?

[yiannis_christodoulou]

Interesting always found double run days didnt work for me as body was tired. However double disciplines works wonders

[Leeroy]

So I need at least another year before I should be thinking about double days :)

[alanshrimpton]

I don't double run but when in afternoon shift I'll run in the morning and take a 20min ride to work lunch time. Of course it's a 20 min ride home too in the evening. I do this twice a week. Day shift its a 4:30am ride to work, ride home then straight into a run. Night shift is ride... You get the drift. 5am ride home is often hard after nightshift but I do it.

[kierenkd]

I've only split easy runs when I haven't had time - eg 13KM easy, if I overslept, I'll do a bit at lunch & finish off after work. I tend to avoid though - not needed at my current load of 70-100km per week.

[parleekingy]

Never tried a double run (yet). Do often do t run + bike sessions in the same day? I often do a 45-60 min spin a few hours after a structured run session or race as it to flush the legs, especially after a parkrun as otherwise it seems a waste of a Saturday for volume.