After more great weeks of training than I can count, I knew that I was bound to face a training set back. Unfortunately, that happened this week, as I came down with my first cold of the school year. This cold has been a bit of a roller coaster, as I’ve felt great one day, then the next I felt pretty run down and miserable. That’s probably the result of thinking that I was on the mend, and then pushed myself, when I really hadn’t fully recovered yet.
I’ve always been somebody who tries to not make excuses for my inability to complete physical activity. I’ve always been an active person, and I find it very difficult to accept the need for rest and recovery, especially when I’m sick. Although I pushed myself to run the Dulles Day 10k on the Runway on Saturday (at which I broke my 51 week old PR by more than two minutes), it seems to have actually set me back on the road to recovering from this cold.
You can’t tell from this picture, but I’ve been battling a cold since Tuesday, which got worse from running the Dulles Day 10k on Saturday
With another 10k next Saturday, and the Army Ten Miler in three weeks, I need to focus on taking things easy this coming week. While I always want to put my best foot forward at every race that I run, I also need to put my health first.
Mon 9/15 – 30 minutes on the elliptical, kettlebell squats swings, abs, arms, shoulders, chest, back, glutes
Tues 9/16 – Rest day
Wed 9/17 – 3.10 mile treadmill run, 0.47 mile cool down walk, chest, arms, abs, legs
Thurs 9/18 – Rest day
Fri 9/19 – Rest day
Sat 9/20 – Dulles Day 10k
Sun 9/21 – Rest day
Total Weekly Mileage – 12.96 miles (2.32 miles less than week 2)
Total ATM Training Mileage – 36.98 miles
I’ve made a promise to myself and Preston that I will take better care of myself this coming week. And if that means I don’t get to train much or at all, then that’ll be the case.
QOTD: When you’re sick, do you take your time to recover or do you push yourself to start working out again as soon as possible?
I prefer to run when I’m sick but if my body says no running. I listen. That’s usually when I should be in bed.
Take care of yourself and you’ll come back strong!
Thanks Jill. I listened yesterday and spent the entire day lounging and napping on the couch.
So sorry you have a cold girl! I have one too! 😦 I’ve been battling it since Thursday. But I’m determined to keep my streak going so I’ve been running through it. Luckily I have no fever and I’m actually less congested when running! Hope we both feel better soon!!!
Yes, hope we both feel better soon!
I would take the time off you need to recover so it doesn’t get worse. Because you are already have a great fitness level you won’t lose anything by taking some time off. Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks Lacey! I’ll definitely be taking it easier this week.
sometimes you really just need to rest. i took off much of this past week to rest between training cycles and i feel great. hope you are back to 100% soon!
Thanks Courtney. Trying to remind myself to rest, although its definitely easier said than done.
Yuck, sorry you’ve been sick 😦 I was sick for most of last week too and I ended up not doing much of anything at all until Sunday, and then having a bad run. I’m hoping all the rest last week will help this week go better though. I hope you have a better week too!
Thanks, you as well!
I definitely take time to recover, I don’t push it because I find that I actually get worse. Hope you are feeling better! Go get some elderberry!
Thanks Sue! I definitely think that I made it worse.
I’m horrible with this…being sick or injured I usually refuse to believe the problem exists and try to train through it, especially with a race coming up! But you’re right health should come first. Hopefully you feel better soon, and good luck on your upcoming races!
Please do take some rest – congrats on your PR! Looking fwd to your recap… ahhh must be so fun to run the runway.
Hope you feel better soon! I know it’s hard to rest, particularly when there’s a lot going on at school and you want to get in your training. Sometimes, though, skipping a run does more good than harm!