I am living proof that half-ironman training dampens your immune system. Last week was supposed to be a well-earned R&R week. Jason promptly came down with a really nasty cold Sunday night, spelling disaster for me later that week. We actually tried to do an ocean swim last Sunday, after our half-marathon but had to call it quits when Jason, shivering uncontrollably, turned blue. Immediately after that, he got a headache and sore throat. Great.
Monday and Tuesday were planned rest days. Wednesday, I started having cold symptoms, just as Jason started feeling better. Thursday, despite my fatigue, headache, and sore throat, I bike commuted to and from work and included a mile walk to run an errand at lunchtime. Normally, this would not count as a workout but my virus took it out of me. By Friday, I surrendered to the bed and spent all of Friday and Saturday in a Benadryl-induced haze.
Sunday, we showed up for our weekly group run. We ran 6.75 miles around Mission Bay. It was the hardest run I have ever done. Maybe since, hmmm, Oct. 8th--the last half marathon I did, when I had a, hmmm, cold. We had signed up for an open water clinic at noon. We showed up and begged the coach to defer to his next clinic. He took pity on us and agreed and we eagerly went home to bed.
Monday (today), I'm back at work but feeling groggy and in a haze. I can't stop sneezing! My head is a balloon. Ugh. I hate being sick. Meanwhile, I feel, irrationally, like this last week has completely ruined my fitness plans. I hope that thought is what I think it is...irrational. I'm slowly going to start easing back into workouts this week. Hopefully, by next week, I'll be back to where I left off. Stupid cold. Stupid undergrads at UCSD, who gave Jason this cold. Ugh. Meanwhile, while my immune system is depressed, my appetite is not. I have gained 3 lbs of chocolate since the cold encounter. So this week I resolve to begin a healthier eating regime and stop succumbing to the wiles of my lagging metabolism.
Keep healthy out there!
Pics from the Carlsbad Half Marathon--last weekend (before the cold)
9 comments:
Don't freak out too much about the fitness lost from being sick. It'll all come back :-)
You poor thing. Hang in there. It's going around.
Hope you are feeling better. The chocolate will come off in no time :)
You guys look strong in the run.
Get well soon.
rest + water + vit C works for me :)
Those rest weeks come when you lest expect it!
Wow, lots to catch up on here. Nice jobe at the race. Rest up and hope you feel better.
Rest up, sickness is your body telling you to stop (at least for a little while).
You will be back into the swing of things.
That stinks- hope you can shake it off quickly.
#1 It is irrational - you have not lost fitness because of this week.
#2 Ha Ha Ha - can I relate to you on the chocolate! Best comfort food when you're sick. Or not sick.
Post a Comment