I'm a hs boys and girls cc coach. In the last 5 days 3 of our girls have come down with the flu. Others look haggard like they're about to get it.
We have a meet scheduled tomorrow and I'm torn. Should I take the healthy kids and race incomplete teams? Or should I broom it because the stress of the race might compromise the immune systems of the healthy kids so I end up with more sick?
Also--any suggestions about getting them back into training after they recover?
I'd bag the meet to focus more on the championship phase of the season which is coming up. Once they come back, I'd have them run an easy run or two before amping up the intensity.
I got H1N1 about a month ago - my experience was very high fever, but once it broke the recovery from this flu may be faster than most - still you don't want them to rush back from it - I was able to run the next day, but went very easy for about 3 days - doing slow distance.
I would take the healthy kids myself because:
1) they may not get it
2) not racing won't decrease their chances of getting really - if they are following proper hand washing etc.
3) if the healthy kids do get it then they will sit out next weeek - so now they've been out of meets 2 weeks and those recovering will now have to decide to race without the rest of their squad.
Unless you think the flu is so rampant that public expose of any kind will result in the healthy kids getting it, you might as well just go on living life as normal....besides if almost everyone is going to get it, the sooner the better...then they can get on with their season and be healthy by championship meet time.
The only people at serious risk are those really young, really old, with already conpormised immune systems.