Sick at St. Jude

[jessmarimba]

I know that I did the right thing but it was a tough decision to make. I just didn't want to jeopardize being sick next month for the marathon. The head cold has turned into a dry cough this morning. Now I have to decide whether to do my 6 mile run tonight or rest. How much time can you take off when you are sick without affecting your fitness level?

I did my last real run 3 weeks before my half. I ran 12 that morning, came down with a cold that afternoon, and it quickly turned into bronchitis. I didn't run at all for 2 weeks, then did one crappy 5 miler about a week before the race. I didn't lose anything substantial fitness-wise, though mentally I was kind of a mess (I wouldn't recommend that route!) But at this point you're ready. You've done the months of training. Let your body do what it needs to recover.

[OakLeaf]

I second Jess, with one exception - if you're well within a week, I think you could try one last long run before you start your taper. The mental confidence you'll gain IMO will outweigh whatever you lose by cutting your taper to three weeks instead of four.

Remember the balance you're trying to strike isn't about working out as though you were well. Unfortunately, that option is gone. It's about "how much fitness will I lose if I depress my immune system, draw microbes deeper into my lungs by hard breathing, and stay sicker longer?"

[Bike Chick]

I felt better as the day went on and decided to run this evening and give it the 5 minute rule. If I felt like crap after 5 minutes, I would quit. My legs felt rested and it was invigorating to run so I got 4 miles in and called it good. Then I came home and read your responses. Oops! I wonder now if I did the right thing.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement, especially about how I've done the training and I'm ready. I know deep down that I'm as ready as I will be but it's my first marathon and I'm not that confident. I have one more 20 miler in a week then I start my taper. Once I have that out of the way, I will feel better.