Runners - feeling sick, help w/ training, please.

[MRSchultz]

Good morning:

As some of you know I'm training for a 1/2 marathon, well I am suppose to run 9 miles this weekend sometime and I feel crappy with this cold. I have a mild sore throat, very dry mouth, stuffy nose which I am continuously blowing and feel kind of weak and "out of it". (Don't I sound like a bowl of fun, huh ;-) ) Anyway, do I force myself to get out there and run anyway?? Or skip this long run, do some form of light exercise this weekend and continue on with my schedule on Monday?

I don't want to jeodarize my training, but I'm thinking that my training wouldn't be good anyway with this cold and I want to feel good again soon.

??HELP??

~Marcia~

 

[Elaine Keller]

I say take the day off all together and get better. You're training shouldn't be hindered and you'll feel better sooner.

 

[materialsgirl]

I'm sorry you're feeling sick. If I were you, I'd just take it easy - rest and recover! You should never force yourself to do anything when you're sick. Your body is trying to tell you something, and that something is "Please, slow down and rest so I can fight off these germs!" You'll recover quicker, so you can get back up to full throttle with your runs sooner.

 

[Kit_]

Hi Marcia,

Sorry to hear about how yucky your feeling. Do take it easy, and don't worry about the run, you can make it up when you're feeling better.

One reason to take it easy, is if you exhaust your body with a run, you're going to make that cold a whole lot worse. Just breathing quicker can bring in more germs that your body can't fight, so instead of one virus in you, you may get two or even three.

Even with the football players if they come in looking/sound like they have a cold, since a lot of times they won't tell me, unless I pester them. They immediately get a very very light workout. Or sent to our dietitian who will change their diet to help fight with a cold then they get sent home to go sleep by all of us. And I only give a really light workout if their energy level is still up and they aren't coughing/sneezing or blowing their nose. As another thing if you feel weak or have a low energy level this is your body's way if saying I need all energy and strength for myself to fight this virus. And if you feel like your brain is in a fog, then it's also not a good idea to do aerobics or anything fast moving. As a lot of times you're body has taken away that part trying to get you to rest, as well as take away the ability to think clearly is from the virus. If you push and keep going you put yourself at a much grater risk of falling. Because the brain just can't handle all those nero signals coming all at once and you wanting your arm to go this way, and your leg that way, and you want it to do it quickly. More times then not, half way threw you'll start to stumble some.

Hopefully the reason to sit around and let your body fight will help you justify it in your mind that you’re not missing anything. As hard as your body is working right now, it won’t take much when you’re feeling better to be right back at that same level.

Kit

 

[RedWingFan]

I agree with the other posters; take it easy.

I'm also training for a 1/2 marathon and went and did 9 miles while recovering from a cold and all I did was feel more worn out and then the rest of my week was a washx( . I definately should have skipped it or just walked instead.

Michelle