Lake Michigan at Sunrise

Lake Michigan at Sunrise

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Hardest Week of Training? Let's Get Sick!

After Sunday's long run that was a fair bit faster than planned, I was hobbling a bit with an ache in my left leg that only comes with walking slow. Of course I started freaking out about this and began thinking about having an extended taper period.

But I know what I always end up doing, I try to do every run to test how much goes away once I warm up.

Monday: Recovery run, 6 miles. I ran this real easy and slowed down any time I felt any tightness or ache. No reason for time concerns today.

Also my kiddo has been sick since Sunday, so I've been getting mentally prepared for catching what she has... and I did.

Tuesday: Hanson plan called for a strength run of 4 x 1.5 miles at marathon pace minute 10 seconds. Now I've been aiming to do that at 6:53, as that is based off a BQ time. In reality, I'll be running at 7:12 or so, so I would only need to be doing like 7:02ish if I was being realistic.

I woke up a fair amount over night every time my kid started coughing.  As a parent, you are very alert to the sounds of your child. I would wake up and wait to see if she was just coughing and going back to sleep, or if I was needed to comfort her. Also, the cat was being very annoying scratching on paneling the last couple hours of my sleep...

Finally 3:40am. I was real tired and as soon as I came to my senses, I realized I was sick. I knew that nobody would think less of me if I slept and rested. I remembered though what the Hanson Book says, try to at least get in a few miles if you can to keep your legs. And I figured, I'll just be feeling worse after today, so let's just try it. I imagine I'll miss 1-2 days or have to just do easy runs until I'm recovered.

Get outside at about 4:15am, a little brisk. I also am sporting my last pair of kicks for the training season and they'll take me into the Chicago Marathon:


As I warmed up, I tried to get a feel for what the hurdles would be. Wind out of the SE, that's going to suck. My wind felt off, no surprise considering the cold. Energy felt like it was draining faster than normal, not that much of a big deal. Okay, lets try the run. Rather than force the issue for pace, I put in the effort that was safe for today. My pace for the 1.5 mile intervals ranged between 6:45 - 7:15. I was okay with it, just glad I didn't quit.  My stomach started going sour around mile 3. Stopped at Belmont to help take the pressure off.

The return run felt easier with the wind out of my face, but my energy started dipping off and on and my stomach just wasn't happy. I managed to get one last good half mile in at full speed, then settle again.

Overall, I am glad I got through it. I'll probably need to make some adjustments over the next 3 days to either rest/shorter miles/or just easy miles, until I feel like I'm on the upswing. Otherwise, I'll end up in the...


And just because:


18 comments:

  1. Pete B lakefronttrail.blogspotSeptember 24, 2013 at 8:11 AM

    Sorry you're sick. Hopefully you weren't contagious on Sunday! :) Anyway, I would blame it all on us running too fast. Seriously, all things considered the next couple of weeks of training is only to keep us sharp, there are very little fitness gains to be made in the last 2.5 weeks. You are 99.99% there, just rest up and get better, so you have a good solid chuck of time that you are healthy before the marathon.

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  2. My trainer's rule of thumb for working out when sick is that you can keep doing it if the cold is above your neck (like sniffles, headache, etc.), but not if it's below (like a chest cold). I never know if it's better to get out even if I have a bad workout, or just rest, but if I'm at the beginning of a cold, I'll push until it gets really bad. So of course no one would think less of you for resting, but I totally see why you didn't.


    Second Pete's advice though - I was going to say that you've been kicking such ass in training over the past several weeks, you should be good to go on race day even if you take a little time off now to rest.

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  3. Better to be sick now than in a couple weeks I guess. Get the runs in while you can and just don't be stupid if the cold gets worse (or is that Wurst?)

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  4. Oh No! Hope you and the kiddo get better soon!

    Sometimes your body just needs the rest - I know when I have the start of a cold and when that happens all exercise ceases and I become a bum on my couch... But then again ALL of my colds end up being horrendous and I usually have to stay home from work....

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  5. I agree with Pete. At this point, rest is more important than waking up early to squeeze in a few miles. I like to run when I'm sick (so long as it is above the neck) because I feel better afterwards (usually) but I keep my pace slower and run shorter distances. However, given all of the early mornings, my guess is sleep is the most important thing right now. We're so close to race day, the last thing you want to do is have a cold move into your chest! Plus, running a marathon sick is awful and probably dangerous. I had a cold during my first and ended up throwing up afterwards because of all of the congestion and draining. I wouldn't do it again.


    I hope you feel better soon!

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  6. Sorry you're under the weather. I hope it clears up soon.

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  7. My boyfriend was sick last week and now I'm feeling it too! I'm trying to decide if running will help me feel better or worse :(

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  8. All those pictures are hilarious and really do help drive the point home. =D So sorry to hear that you are feeling under the weather. I wish you a speedy recovery! And I also agree with what everyone else already said about just taking it easy now instead of trying to squeeze more out of your training. At this point it's more important to get to the starting line in good health than it is to maximize your training.

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  9. HAh I felt fine Sunday. I'm taking an extra rest day this week. Hoping I don't lose 99% of my training from one sick day, right? Hoping my twinge in my calf appreciates it too, sad I had to cancel PT today though

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  10. Totally resting today (work and running). Not sure If I'll try to at least get a little jog in later, we'll see.

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  11. Glad it isn't the Wurst timing ever. I'll see if I make it an entire rest day without sneaking out for a jog.

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  12. I stayed home from work today! hoping I can sneak in some easy miles asap (maybe after lunch? lol)

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  13. They sleep feels like it helped a lot! I'm not sure If I'll do some easy miles later today, do two days of no running (tomorrow is my planned day off), or just switch to an easy run tomorrow and try the tempo Friday (cause I'll be 100% already right??)

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  14. hard call to me! Get the sickness out of the way now. Mentally I feel like I need to run just to not go bonkers, but I won't be pushing any pace

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  15. Glad you like the photos! Getting back to full health for the final boss fight is important!

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  16. Kids and the CTA will get me sick 2-3 times every Fall and Winter. Glad it happened now rather than the week of! Thank you!

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  17. I always am in awe of little children and their supergerms because without them, I am convinced I would never get sick (knocks on wood table here at work). On the bright side, definitely better now than say October 9. Heal thyself quickly, sir!

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