This week of marathon training can be summed up by the movie title, "Death Becomes Her." I am not being dramatic - holy wow, I got sick last week. While traveling. And presenting. It was *awesome*. #sarcasm.
You can plan and plan and plan for something like a marathon, but sometimes life throws a wrench in those plans and you come down with a terrible case of bronchitis. I went to the doctor on Friday and am on antibiotics so am hopefully on the mend, but this infection seriously laid me up. I exchanged a flurry of messages with my coach, who assured me that missing a long run this weekend would not be the end of the world and would be in my best interest.
So my mileage this week was super low. I worked out twice. TWICE. Terrible huh? But when the death virus comes a-knocking, you best lay your body down on the couch and admit defeat.
Here's hoping my 21 mile run goes ok on Saturday... I am really nervous about how this interruption of marathon training is going to impact my marathon, but I guess if it does impact the race, there will be other marathons. And like my mom said on Friday, nothing would have been gained by running this weekend.
I am so sick, I ended up having to cancel my Sunday/Monday trip to Philadelphia as I am still home sick. I can't believe how much this illness wiped me out.
Here's how my epically disappointing week of marathon training played out:
Monday - 7.25 miles with 4 miles at marathon pace. I ran those 4 miles at 9:08, 9:05, 8:52, and 8:57 and felt strong during that stretch of the run despite the fact that my cold was really starting to come on this day.
Tuesday - rest (travel day)
Wednesay - I felt like absolute crap but dragged my butt down to the hotel gym to crank out some yassos. I ran 6.25 miles total and did 6 yassos at an 8 min/mile pace. I actually didn't feel too bad during this run, surprisingly.
Thursday - Sunday - rest
Training Tally:
Week 12: a measly 13.5 miles
Training to date: 353.5
Have you ever had to take a week off from training for something due to an illness? This is a new experience for me. I've been sick in other training cycles, like last year when I got that string of sinus infections, but this level of sickness is like nothing I have experienced in years honestly.
Yeah this death virus does NOT sound like fun at all, so I think it was definitely smart to just stop running for a few days. You probably would've just ended up being sicker and missing more runs! In the last 6 years I've been teaching I've got thousands of colds, but I've gotten probably 2 that I can think of just TERRIBLE sicknesses, once I was out of school for 3 days in a row and it would've been 5 except I got the sickness on a Saturday so I obviously didn't have to miss weekend days. Other than that I don't think I've ever been out even two days in a row so everyone was like WHAT happened haha. God I hate sickness. Also I think I am getting sick too right now.... doesn't it seem too early to be getting sick, it's still summer technically!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this was frustrating but I'm SO glad you didn't run this weekend! Your mom is right, nothing beneficial would have come out of it and you might even have made yourself sicker! Since you cancelled your Philly trip I hope this means you're home from work resting and sleeping - feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better. It is so frustrating to be sick and forced to rest. I'm sure you will be fine though. It is mentally the worst in the scheme of training! Perhaps the rest will help in the long run!
ReplyDeleteOuch. I missed a total of 6 weeks of training in two 3-week blocks for marathon #1, and it left me woefully underprepared. I don't think missing one week will hurt you though!
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray that you are going to start feeling much better by today! Be sure to get lots of rest until you are fully recovered! Your health is more important than any race!
ReplyDeleteUgh, you poor thing! Seriously, does your immune system hate you?? You live the healthiest out of anyone I know, so your body should be extremely happy with you!
ReplyDeleteI really hope you're feeling better today. Bottom line, no matter what we eat and how we treat our bodies, there is no way of knowing what we're gonna catch. You're doing everything you can to take care of yourself and I'm proud of you for making the decision to stay home. Being on a plane for any amount of time could have had a disastrous outcome.
I bet your marathon will be fine, there's still over a month left of training. You're going to do great!
I know that this is frustrating, but you will be fine if you get well soon rather than causing the sickness to linger by pushing yourself too hard before you are truly on the mend. You've had such a solid training cycle that I can't imagine that a week of rest is going to derail that. Get well soon!
ReplyDelete:( I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so horrible. Sounds like you're doing the right thing and just focusing on getting better. It's always nerve wracking coming back from an illness or injury but I'm sure you will do just fine!
ReplyDeleteI hope that the doc can get you something else to help you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to see it when you are in the thick of the illness and etc. but you said it in this post that if this sickness impacts your race, there will certainly be other marathons.
I hope that you find some relief from the sickness soon. Again, so very sorry that you are so sick. Times like this (well, ok, really all the time) it would be awesome to live closer so that I could bring you soup and gatorade and cheesy magazines.
xoxox
Gosh, this virus sounds awful! Just terrible and I hope you're on the healing end of things. It's crazy how wiped out being sick can make us feel!
ReplyDeleteI've had to take time off exercise when I'm sick, even if it's "just" a head cold because I found it just takes me longer to recover if I keep exercising while I'm sick.
Oh no! Hope you're feeling better soon. Is always a bummer to be laid up sick or unable to engage in exercise when needed/wanted.
ReplyDeleteI got sick close to the beginning of my training cycle and had a really low mileage week. It sucked but there is nothing you can do about it and I just know it will be worth it for you to get good and rested up and you WILL come back stronger!
ReplyDeleteAwww Lisa, don't beat yourself up over this week. You're a freaking superstar every single other day ALWAYS, your body just needs rest and recuperation! I know that you know this, but still. Getting better is the first most important thing!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good thing that you are taking the week off to get better. Sometimes pushing through a cold isn't the best thing, and hopefully this rest helps you kick the colds butt!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, that sounds like a rough week, Lisa. Hope you're getting on the verge of feeling human again. Good plan to cancel your Philly trip. Sounds like the body needed that.
ReplyDeleteUg. I knew you were sick, but I guess I didn't realize it was that bad. I hope you are feeling better soon! Being sick is the pits, especially when you have something planned, which I guess is all the time. You are right to not run. I don't think it will impact your training at all. You are already strong enough; now you are just putting in bonus miles. I mean, you already ran a 20, so on a normal training cycle you would be done! These extra long runs are just keeping your endurance sharp! Don't worry about it too much; I don't think it's going to affect your marathon time! Get better; that is what is important.
ReplyDeleteI have been lucky to never be super sick like that during training. Plus I don't practice what I preach (stupidly) so I would probably do some damage to myself if I was!
Sorry to hear you are still sick :-( Feel better soon girl!
ReplyDeleteIt is important to take time off from training when sick, in my opinion.
Don't worry about not working out last week. During my marathon training cycle, I ran 15 miles one week cause I was sick with a stomach virus. The next week I took it easy and made a comeback and everything went smoothly! You will be fine with missing the week and I bet your body will actually respond well from the rest! Hope you are feeling better!
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