Wow I know how she feels. My running hasn't been the same since I got COVID in 2020 long before the vax...Still sucks. I used to be able to run at a brisk pace without even doing a warm up first. Now I have to warm up to run brisk without my body going into lactic acid burn immediately.
Long covid is real and from what I read it could be due to decrease in functional lung tissue due to scarring as the lung tried to heal. Which unfortunately is irreversible. Similar to what someone suffering COPD goes through.
I think that people are calling long haul COVID is actually the result of irreversible lung scarring. And there is nothing you can do about that other than...get new lungs. Even loss of a small amount of functional lung tissue due to scarring will mess up your endurance significantly.
They probably didn't suffer any scarring. Scarred lung tissue is permanent. The scarring stops or you'd be dead within weeks or months but the tissue that has already been scarred is forever lost. Your endurance will take a hit so you'd have to maximize other performance factors to compensate. In my case, I worked on improving my stride and cadence to compensate for the loss of aerobic effiicency.
Man, you're a dick. There's multiple runners in this thread sharing their long Covid stories but you don't care because, what, they're not in high school or college?
I get it sounds ridiculous. It does to me too. 5'10 188 to begin with. Formerly national class cyclist, but only been lifting last several years as don't have the time it takes to achieve the fitness level I grew accustomed to in the saddle.
I wasn't intending to suggest my only weight loss came from fat. The muscle loss one experiences when they are eating ~500 calories a day (brown rice was almost only thing i could handle, so I'd have about 1 cup a day) and sitting at a desk the vast majority of the day is really extreme. It's similar to being bedridden while also being on a severe calorie-deficit diet. Muscle-wasting jackpot. For 3 months straight.
I've put about 15 pounds back on. While I wasn't fat before, I have to say it feels good being lighter again. What doesn't feel good is having almost no energy. I do trust I'll get a decent amount of fitness back, but my main point is that it's wasted time one never gets back. In my case, not a big deal as I don't compete anymore, but Kate Grace will never get this season back so it's really a bummer for her.
Wouldn't be surprised if it's tied to lung function, but really hope it's not permanent. I feel you on that immediate lactate buildup, but the sensation that is most prominent for me is in the lungs. It reminds me of the feeling I'd get doing a long hard workout at altitude on a cold dry winter day. Not completely scorched, but at least slightly singed.
Wow I know how she feels. My running hasn't been the same since I got COVID in 2020 long before the vax...Still sucks. I used to be able to run at a brisk pace without even doing a warm up first. Now I have to warm up to run brisk without my body going into lactic acid burn immediately.
Long covid is real and from what I read it could be due to decrease in functional lung tissue due to scarring as the lung tried to heal. Which unfortunately is irreversible. Similar to what someone suffering COPD goes through.
Wouldn't be surprised if it's tied to lung function, but really hope it's not permanent. I feel you on that immediate lactate buildup, but the sensation that is most prominent for me is in the lungs. It reminds me of the feeling I'd get doing a long hard workout at altitude on a cold dry winter day. Not completely scorched, but at least slightly singed.
I notice more of a strain in my abs or diaphragm, not sure which one, within seconds of trying to start a fast workout. But that's probably due to compromised lung function. Feels like I walked up a few flights of stairs despite not even going 100 meters yet.
17 kids on our XC team got Covid last summer. All ran PRs during the season and are just fine.
You know that long haul covid is still a thing despite your one example, right?
Yes we ALL know that long haul exists. Statistically useful to know that most runners recover to normal life, and hopefully Kate does. Don't assume the worst when people kindly provide their experience for general knowledge. What we need to know is what causes long haul and what one can do while infected to reduce this.
Long haul covid is very real, and it has existed since before covid. It is a now popular name to describe post viral syndromes that arise after a covid infection. The reason its getting a new name is because it is way, way more common to get a post viral syndrome from Covid than other illnesses like the flu. For the flu its quite rare, for epstein barre and lymes disease it is less rare...
This might be helpful... even a possible cure. Some background first.
Eight years ago, I would suffer from bouts of fatigue and low grade flu symptoms. I just thought it was the flu and ignored it. It would happen once or twice a year, but gradually it got worse to the point that it was happening every 4-6 months. It was destroying my training. I wasn't just slower; sometimes I couldn't even finish the workout at a slower pace. I was tested for and diagnosed with long term EBV (Epstein Barr Virus).
Not only was the test definitive, it showed when my most recent flare up would have occurred. The predicted date (about 3 months earlier) accurately matched my notes in my running journal!
I was told there was no cure. I would just have to live with it.
I turned to alternative medicine and discovered Lauricidin... an extract of coconut oil. I was desperate so I tried it. It worked! It has been several years now and no more bouts of EBV.
I realize this is a stretch, but maybe Lauricidin could help with long haul covid.
- Covid and EBV are both viruses. (EBV is a retrovirus.)
- Both can have long haul effects.
- Lots of testimonials for Lauricidin for EBV and for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Lauricidin is only $30/jar if you buy two jars. Go to Amazon and read the reviews. I've been taking it for about 8 years now. I no longer take it every day... maybe 1-2x/week. Plus, if I get a scratchy throat or feel tired, I'll take it every day. No EBV bouts of fatigue in eight freaking years! And I recently had Omicron. I took Lauricidin every day and the fatigue lasted 3 weeks and then stopped. Three weeks might sound like a long time, but at my age, just getting through it with mild symptoms is a win!
tl;dr
Try Lauricidin. It's only $30. See if it helps with long covid.
Try Lauricidin. It's only $30. See if it helps with long covid.
I followed my own advice and read about 200 reviews on Amazon. Wow! LOTS of testimonials for EBV, CFS, Lime disease, and virus-related diseases. The negative reviews were only 3% and concerned about imitation products or strong stomach upset from those with Lime disease.
I've only bought from the manufacturer's website so I would recommend doing that instead of Amazon.
One other point, when I first tried Lauricidin years ago for EBV, the effects were FAST... 1-2 days.
Someone with long-haul covid... give it a try and report back if it helps!