Tested for Covid on Tuesday NYC Marathon Tomorrow

Easy runs the last few days is exactly what you should be doing, sick or not. You are deep into your taper. I think your plan is sound. Definitely run the race and aim for a slightly slower time. If you feel good by the time you get across the Queensboro Bridge then pick it up and go for it. If you feel bad, just slow down and enjoy the experience.

Please don't, unless you're planning on wearing an N95 mask the entire time.

Regardless of the disinformation spread on this site, you can, and most likely will, spread it to other people despite being outside.

Please discuss this with your medical doctor. Even if you're not at risk of spreading COVID, there are other medical considerations you should discuss with your doctor.

I spoke to a doctor earlier in the week he didn't advice running against it, said it'd be permissible to run under current covid protocols and said if I mask up prior to the race the risk of spread should be very low though of course not zero.

In the first couple of days after I got it my heart heart was really elevated when I ran, but it's been normal the past couple days.

Of course you should run. If anybody is still scared of this, its their prerogative to hide indoors, not yours!

How are you traveling to the event?

There is risk to spread it on the way.

My thought is that if you are feeling fine and test negative, run the race.

This is the part that should worry you. You're recently recovered from a disease that can have cardiac effects, and you have evidence that there were in fact some cardiac effects just days ago. Did your doctor know about the elevated heart rate? Does he know what running a marathon is like? At least assure us that you're 25 and not 45.

I'll either wear an N-95 on the subway to the ferry, sit outside on the ferry, and then take the bus to the start wearing a mask throughout. Or take an uber/lyft from where I live to the start.

I don't think I'll test negative. My doctor said that it's not a good indicator of whether you will spread after you've been sick as you can be positive for a long time. I still tested positive this morning.

I'm a lot closer to 25 than 40. I don't want to give my exact age. This will also be my eight marathon if that counts for anything.

You're outdoors during the entire race.

Almost ZERO chance you're spreading it to anyone, even if you were infectious.

Run.

I wouldn’t do it. A marathon is extremely stressful on the body and the heart. Your body and heart are already under stress from the illness and your recovery from the marathon could be severely compromised, never mind the potential long term complications you could suffer. Of course, you might be totally fine but in my view the risk is not worth it. There are other marathons.

Personally I wouldn’t risk putting that much strain on your body while still recovering from Covid. Is there any way to still get into Philly?

If you do run keep in mind people are super vulnerable to catching stuff after a marathon. Keep your distance from other runners at the finish and get an N95 on as soon as possible.

Risk to others is likely slim. The risk to yourself is a little elevated. Marathons and up are acutely immunosuppressive. They cause temporary kidney damage and other factors even when you are 100%.

ill say while I dont think youll spread it to anyone its probably not worth doing. I had covid in september and took me about 6 weeks to get back to training paces. im a 2:35 guy aswell and I couldnt get under 6:00 pace without feeling like my lungs were gonna explode for a while. 6:30s were still fine

I decided not to run. Thank you everyone for your feedback. It seems clear I wouldn't run that well, and the consequences for my personal health as well as that of others was rather unclear. I don't know if I made the right decision. I am miserable now, but I'm sure I'd be sure more so tomorrow if I ended up running crappy amidst everything.

Made same call with Boston. Friend who is a cardiologist said it was a non-negligible risk.

You made the right decision with bailing. Ignore anyone calling you a "pus*y." I think very difficult to transmit outdoors, but it would not be smart in the long term to put your body through that much stress so soon after having a virus that you say affected your heart rate. I know it sucks because you put in the training, but it's the right decision. Maybe you could shoot for another marathon in a few weeks to capitalize on your training?

With a race like NYC - pretty packed in for a while, there is risk of spreading (especially Omicron variant) -- though likely low risk unless you are coughing all over everyone.

However, definitely there is risk to you -- long covid is no joke and no one exactly knows how some people get it and others don't and marathons definitely tax the immune system in a lot of ways. You will have other opportunities to race -- and you won't lose that much fitness taking it easy for another week or two. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.