Yes, friends, I once again had to sit in the waiting room and wear a face mask. That totally wasn't embarrassing at all. #sarcasm
So yes, I went back to the doctor. My cough got worse instead of better, and I still had a fever on Friday. My body is worn out right now. So I got another round of antibiotics and some steroids to help with the cough, and they also took a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia (I'll get the result today). Man, I was/am sick.
I do have to give a shout out to my pharmacist, though. She picked up on the fact that the doctor prescribed a drug that interacts with steroids and could cause a ruptured tendon. She said she would advise most people to avoid exercise but when I told her I am training for a marathon, she decided to call the doctor and come up with a different drug (which ended up being 1/10 of the cost! Double win!).
Anyways, not much running happened last week. I am starting to watch my hopes of a strong marathon slip away. At this point, I don't even know if I will be able to run the Des Moines marathon. My coach said I shouldn't give up yet, but that I should also have a back-up marathon in case I am unable to run the DSM marathon.
To say I am discouraged is an understatement. But more than anything, I am MAD. I do all the right things (eat well, go to bed early, rarely drink, don't smoke), and this is how my body thanks me? Granted, I know that I was under a heightened level of stress in August when my boss decided to leave the company, so that is a likely culprit in why I got so sick. But it still sucks. :(
On a positive note, the steroids + antibiotics ARE working and I felt well enough to do a long run in Chicago yesterday (which was great, albeit a little slow but I'll take it).
So I guess now I have to take a wait and see approach. I know in the grand scheme of things that it won't matter if I can't run the Des Moines marathon, but dangit, I was really excited about it and I have been working so hard all summer. I guess time will tell what happens, and if this is not my race, there will be others (my back-up plan at this point is the CIM in Sacramento in early December).
Training Tally:
Wednesday: 6.5 miles (during which I coughed and coughed and coughed)
Sunday: 13 miles @ 9:51 pace along the beautiful Lake Shore Path in Chicago. Wow this is an awesome city to run in!!
Week 13: 19.5 miles (sob)
Training to date: 373miles
Despite the fact that I am really bummed about how this illness is impacting my training, I am focusing on what my coach said in his email to me last week: "There are many marathons, there is only one Lisa. Get well." (I have THE best coach).
23 comments:
So sorry to hear that you're still dealing with this illness but glad to hear you're feeling a bit better. The bit from your coach was great---you'll still make it happen and it's still impressive the mileage you ARE making even with being sick!
Man, that must be a very bad and frustrating cough you picked up. Hopefully this round of medicine will knock it out. I'm sure it is tough to be sick like that and just feel like you are waiting to get better...feel better soon!!
I'm so sorry to hear this, you've been training so hard. This weekend was the Sydney half-marathon, but due to a medical problem, I couldn't do it, I was SO dissappointed. I can only imagine how much harder it would be for a full marathon. I hope you make a quick recovery.
Aw, so true- there is on one Lisa :)
Still absolutely stinks, especially after you have been working so hard. Hopefully this illness goes away faster than you expect! I also get angry when I get sick haha, especially when I see people who really don't take care of themselves having awesome immune systems!
Yikes! I'm glad however the medicine is working - hopefully you'll be totally back on your feet soon! :)
I agree with having a back up race. I had to take a lot of time off my first marathon training cycle because I was very sick, and trying to still get those long runs in and then racing sick just prolonged the illness. Take care of you first!
Get well soon.
That's so so frustrating! I'm sorry you've been sick. It's so hard when you know you treat your body well and still manage to come down with something. I'm super jealous that you got to run along the lakefront path though. It's so beautiful! That's where I did all my training for my two half marathons and it's such a great route :) Hope you're having fun in Chicago!
Glad you went to the doctors and the medicine is working. Don't give up on the marathon - still a lot of time and you never know what will happen.
That quote is perfect, and so true. There are SO MANY marathons. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
I am glad that the antibiotics and steroids are helping! I am keeping my fingers crossed for negative test results for today!!!
i know it would suck to not be able to run the marathon that you were planning on running, but it's more important to get you healthy again! And I agree with what your coach said! There is only one fabulous Lisa!
Bright side: if you run the CIM, it goes right by my house (and I'd totally be willing to have to stay and drive you to the start, etc.) and I know I great place for post-race brunch :)
I love when you get hopeful words that have staying power ... my guess is every time you get sick going forward, you're going to hear that coach whispering those same words in your ear (and she's right!). So glad you had some amazing weather here in Chicago to get in a few miles before you left.
Awww Lisa, I'm so sorry you're not getting any better (or not as quickly as you should have been). That just REALLY sucks. I hope your hopes for this marathon aren't completely over, I mean you're so strong and you train so well ALL THE TIME, hopefully these two weeks won't kill it completely. I'm thinking of you!
Ugh I know this is just SUCH a bummer. I think CIM is a REALLY good back up plan though as I've heard nothing but good things about that course.
Thinking of you! I still believe you will hit your marathon goal this year, even if it's not at DSM.
Bravo to your coach for his advise. In my book, he rocks! I'm so glad you are starting to feel better and regain your strength, but listen to your body and take it one step at a time!
At this point, you could run the Des Moines marathon if you continue to get better, but you would likely feel not as strong as you had a few weeks ago. Sorry about that Lisa. I know all that time, training and energy really is nice to see it payoff in the form of a successful marathon. Alas, there will be others. I hope things turn around soon! Look for the positive as much as you can.
I'm really sorry to hear that you're still sick and I think you should be impressed with the mileage that you logged while having bronchitis and being on antibiotics. I hope you start feeling much better soon and that you're still in a position to run a strong marathon in Des Moines!
Love your coaches advice! Sorry to hear you're still fighting this though, hope you get better soon!! And I love that your pharmacist picked up on that, that's great they're looking out for you (as they should)
I remember how sick you were last fall, so I can't beleive you're having to deal with this again. Hopefully your body gets its act together soon and you start feeling better, and hope that next fall you're able to stay healthy throughout.
Oh, man! I'm sorry this bug is still kicking around and is now interrupting your awesome DSM hopes. Boo hiss!
But I do love, love, love what your running coach said. There IS only one Lisa!
Love what your coach said; it's so true that there is only one YOU and selfishly I love having you in my life.
So glad to hear you are on the mend, though, and were able to get in a long run in Chicago. Hope there are no more doctor's visits in your near (or far) future.
That is so funny what your coach said -- because I was about to tell you "There are many marathons, but you only get one body!" -- but I didn't want to sound "Motherly".
I am so glad you are feeling better! That's kind of cool that you got to do your long run in Chicago!! Love running in new cities. Now you aren't allowed to feel bad or hard on yourself -- because you still got a long run in! Yes, it wasn't 21 miles. But it was still long!!
aww. i'm sorry you've been so sick!
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