Running When Sick … Wise or Unhealthy?
Disclaimer: Below are my thoughts only and by no means should be perceived as advice on whether or not any reader of this blog should follow the same course while sick. I suggest you consult a professional opinion. ..........
Is running while sick a healthy choice or sick and dumb? I think the natural tendency is for the general public to see running while sick as horribly bad decision-making. Running experts would say running while under the weather is fine, but one may need to vary their workout intensity or duration. Certainly, doctors will be all over the place with their recommendations. It would not be uncommon to get three differing opinions from three MDs all specializing in the same field. One may give the, “absolutely not” answer, while looking to play it safe or cover his butt. Another may give the “only in moderation” answer, again placing the responsibility on the runner to alter their running. The third may respond with “it depends on what you are used to, what your symptoms are, and how your body reacts.”
The third doctor probably gives the best answer and is most in line with what the running experts would conclude as well. In reality, I think most runners already have their mind made up and will do whatever they planned prior to consulting the doc. I would hope most would listen to an ultimatum to not run if the doctor provided one, but even then I imagine many would not.
This past week, I have been sick. The headaches, sinus pressure, watery/itchy eyes, stomachaches, and dizziness were all bothersome symptoms. Yet, over-the-counter medication was enough to block the majority of them out, even if for only a two-hour duration at times. So. I ran. Every day. The runs felt good while doing them and I think they helped a lot with the sinus pressure. I even missed a day of work, but ran that night. I’m not boasting about it. To be honest, I was miserable throughout the day and slept an extra 3 hours that morning and took another 90-minute nap that afternoon. But, in the end, I felt the run would make me rest better and breathe easier at night, so I headed out the door. The worst of my symptoms lasted only two days; yet, I still fight some of them more than a week later.
This is not my only brush with illness. Sometimes I run everyday, others just a few, and once or twice I have been knocked down and missed several days in a row. In general, I push to the point of healthy obsession whether I’m sick or not.
Here is my training for the past week.
Sunday was a 20-mile day. I did 10 miles on the middle school loop with Courtney as described in my last blog. Again, the wind was a big factor for the return 5-mile trip. I estimate the heading out miles were 30 seconds per mile faster than the return miles. This was Courtney’s first real run since taking time off after cross country season ended, so that was a factor too. Those 10 miles ended at 7:41 pace. I ran the second ten miles as three loops down at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. There isn’t much tree cover there, so the wind was nagging, but I ran them at 6:36 pace. Combined Total: 20 miles – 2:22:48 (7:08 pace).
Monday was an easy recovery day and Martha decided to come along for the first four miles. We ran through a greenbelt that connects parks in north Ames’ “presidential” streets area. The grass running was nice following 20 miles the day before. Total: 7 miles – 53:23 (7:38 pace).
I got hit overnight with a pretty rough cold. My head throbbed, I was dizzy throughout the day, I had phlegm building up, and my eyes were itchy. I should not have gone to work that day, but by the time I woke up and felt miserable it was too late to get a substitute teacher so I toughed it out.
I also toughed out my workout for the day. I was committed to help my running partner through a hard workout, so I put down some generic DayQuil and headed out the door about 30 minutes later. The footfalls on each step of the first 2 miles sent shock waves to my head as my headache persisted. Eventually, though, the discomfort disappeared and much of my phlegm loosened up. The run was a 5-mile progressive ending a sub-race pace for my partner. The goal was 7:20 - 7:00 - 6:45 - 6:30 - 6:20. We ran 7:16 – 6:45 – 6:42 – 6:18 – 6:13 to finish 41 seconds under the goal. Total: 7 miles – 48:38 (6:57 pace).
Wednesday, I did not go in to work. I spent the morning in bed, started an antibiotic regimen since my cold was acting more like strep throat, and generally felt the same. Yet, I knew the run would loosen up my congestion, so I again took the DaqQuil to settle the headache and headed out for a 10-miler on Stagecoach Road, which is full of hills and some gravel surfacing. It is one of my more favorite places to run. Total: 10 miles – 1:14:03 (7:24 pace).
Thursday was another recovery run. My health was much improved, but my cold still lingered. It does so even today, now a full week since the onset. Having a wife and two kids at home is probably a big reason for that, or maybe exercising while ill. I’ve been managing though, so I don’t plan to back off. The route headed west on 13th/Ontario well past Sawyer school and back. The whole trip out is deceptively uphill, which makes for a sluggish feeling run. The goals for the day were met though. Total: 8 miles – 1:01:40 (7:43 pace).
Friday, I was running solo so I decided to pursue a harder workout. It was also much colder out, so I activated my ISU rec membership ($36/month) and took to the indoor track. My plan was 15 miles at slightly above marathon pace. That means navigating through dozens of ISU students while running 82.5 laps on a 3-lane track. Overall, it went very well. Afterwards, I think I was leaning a bit like those old V-8 commercials, but otherwise I felt pretty good. I went without fluids for the first 11 miles and then got a drink. When I resumed running, I was lightheaded and also realized I hadn’t told my wife that I’d be gone for an extended run, so I cut it short to a half-marathon. This was a nice effort and hardly one where I felt taxed while running it, so it was a nice confidence building run and one that points towards my goals being realistic. Total: 13 miles – 1:22:22 (6:20 pace).
Saturday was wet and rainy. Just a few miles to the north or the west it was snowing. My mom’s house actually got about 7 inches of snow and she’s only 100 miles straight west of me. It was another recovery run day, so we headed out for an easy 8 miles down Duff and out East 13th. It went well, but the rain really picked up making it quite cold towards the end and also required two rounds of newspaper stuffing for my shoes. Total: 8 miles – 1:01:43 (7:43 pace)
For the week (Sun-Sat), I hit 73 miles in 8:44:37 or 7:11/mile.
No comments:
Post a Comment