Major Setback…Ottawa Race Weekend Is A No-Go

VICKY:
Well, I am not pleased to report that I have suffered a minor setback in my training:  the flu or something like it.  I was sick and bedridden for exactly 8 days.  I felt like I ran a marathon.

GRANT:
But you’ve never run a marathon.

VICKY:
Yes, I know that but this is what I imagine it would feel like after running a marathon.  Alright fine, I felt like I was hit by a truck.  My whole body was aching, I was feverish, fatigued and my throat felt like I swallowed a scour pad.  Plus, I was coughing up a lung like a smoker (which I am not!).  Obviously the doctor asked if I had been to Mexico or in contact with anyone from Mexico.  I looked at him and pointed to my pale white skin and said: “Really?  Mexico?  Do you really think I look like someone who came back from Mexico?”  He acknowledged quickly I had no tan whatsoever and quickly swabbed my throat.  I know, I know, it’s not the doctor’s fault but I was really miserable and he had to ask a question that I thought the answer to be obvious.  He lightened the mood when he said not to cough in anyone’s face except if it was someone I didn’t like.  He was kidding of course but I did think about it for a moment…hmm… who could I “infect” if I had the opportunity…KIDDING!!  People, I am kidding!

GRANT:
Good Lord woman!

VICKY:
So I started to wonder whether running could have anything to do with all of this.  I am no doctor but don’t we all try and self diagnose ourselves while waiting for lab tests?

GRANT:
Actually, I just wait patiently for my lab results.  You’re just impatient Vickster.  Kidding.  Seriously thought, I’ve heard of athletes who overtrain and actually become vulnerable to disease because of it.

VICKY:
Exactly!  I looked it up and it seems that overtraining could have played a role in increasing my susceptibility to infection.  As you know, I ran two 5K races one week apart.  I remember I was feeling fatigued for several days following each of the races.

GRANT:
That makes sense because when I was training to run a marathon, I read about post-marathon side effects.  One of them is that your immunity is decreased for up to 72 hours after running a marathon.

VICKY:
Before this happened, I didn’t know that too much training/running could make me vulnerable.  This only reinforces my belief that I need a coach!  Of course this is crazy talk for now because I can’t afford a coach but anyhow, it would have been helpful to have someone guide me through my training and talk to me along the way about the signs of overtraining. 

GRANT:
But surely you’ll be ok to run this weekend at Ottawa Race Weekend.

VICKY:
Sadly, I have decided to NOT run the 5K this weekend.  I feel awful but at the same time, I can’t push it.  I have to listen to my body otherwise I might injure myself or suffer other health-related set backs.  Now I have to figure out how to get my refund!  Argh! 

GRANT:
This is the part where I say “I told you so”. 

VICKY:
Believe me, I won’t be repeating the same error next year.  Not only will I continue to work on pacing myself while I run but now I have to work on how to pick my races so they are far enough apart to allow me to have a sufficient recovery period.  Hope this was helpful for some of you out there!