So I've been somewhat sick for a few days and I've missed three runs so far. I'm feeling better but I wanna get rid of this cold before it gets really bad. Should I just go for a run regardless assuming that it won't make me more sick?
I'd rather stay on the safe side but I'm wondering how many more days can I miss before I notice a decline in my fitness. I've only been doing mileage and hills lately just trying to get a base for outdoor season so I'm not worried about LT or anything like that.
1 month.
If you feel so-so, go for a short jog. If it you feel better doing it, then continue. If you feel crappy, then stop. There are two types of illness: the kind that you need to take a break and rest and the kind that you actually feel better using your body a bit (albeit at a relatively easy effort). Certainly don't push through the former, but if you feel "ok", the body might respond to A LITTLE exertion.
3 days
That really depends on what phase of training you are in. If you were at peak racing, even one day would have an impact. Being in your base phase, which I assume means you will get back into base work for at least several weeks to come, you should be able to return to full training in several days. The rule of thumb is if it all above your neck you can go out an run when you feel up to it. If it is in your chest, wait until it clears out. I recently missed 2 weeks with a cold. First day back ran a relaxed 40 minutes, then back up to an hour a day, 75 and 90 the next weekend. After the first week, I felt like I had not taken a day off. Of course, the usual caveat, "your experience may vary". Good running!!!
Glenn
Thanks, for the advice...one problem is, I can't tell what kind of cold it is. I feel really good in general but my lungs specifically feel weird. If I breathe in deep I'll start to cough and i'll feel a slight pain. Also a bit of wheezing. The worst thing is that otherwise I feel fine. I'm only worried that it could be the start of something real bad.
Thoughts?
do you work around industrial solvents or coal dust?
Physiological tests show that you can literally lay in bed for seven days without losing any fitness. You'll be rusty, but just as strong/quick. I would think that with some moderate activity sprinkled in, you could extend that quite a bit. The bottom line is that its generally better to rest a day or two in order to get healthy and run healthy rather than half-assing for a week or two.
10 Years.... or at least that what I keep telling myself
the duder wrote:
do you work around industrial solvents or coal dust?
No I don't...but I do live in Residence so that's just as bad :)
It depends.
If you are coached by Tinman everything's possible.
Once a by Tinman coached athlete took 10 years off and then only missed the 10k WR cause he remembered that he forgot to turn off his oven.
I took 10 days straight off in a row by choice last winter and it did not hurt my fitness one iota, infact it could have even helped. Depends on how much you have been running etc before a lay off as to what effect time off has, obviously the fitter you are the easier it is to bounce back even from illness. Low iron this Summer had a huge effect on me though and I barely trained for several months, this has taken longer to come back from...
garfield wrote:
So I've been somewhat sick for a few days and I've missed three runs so far. I'm feeling better but I wanna get rid of this cold before it gets really bad. Should I just go for a run regardless assuming that it won't make me more sick?
I'd rather stay on the safe side but I'm wondering how many more days can I miss before I notice a decline in my fitness. I've only been doing mileage and hills lately just trying to get a base for outdoor season so I'm not worried about LT or anything like that.
clowningnr1 wrote:
It depends.
If you are coached by Tinman everything's possible.
Once a by Tinman coached athlete took 10 years off and then only missed the 10k WR cause he remembered that he forgot to turn off his oven.
LMAO! Now THIS is a good post!!!!
If you were averaging 60 mpw and took a month off, how much of a setback would that be?