Getting over Covid - please share you experience wrt returning to running.

I'm 53 and just got covid for the first time about 2.5 weeks ago. Last vaccinated around the time you were. Also had a decent spring before Covid: coming back from injury but nice consistent mileage (about 40), though not fast (some tempo efforts in the 7:20 range, but mostly just jogging around).

I happen to track HRV pretty regularly. First few days of Covid, it was total trash, the worst readings I've ever had. Bounced back for about five days, and now regressed a bit to the solidly mediocre.

Went for my first run in 17 days yesterday, and it wasn't great. Tried to keep HR low (140), but there was some pretty decent drift into the mid-150s by the end, and this was all at 10-minute pace for a 4.5 mile run on the flats. Really turd stuff. Current goal is just to get my legs back under me and not run anything hard until the HRV readings come back a bit and I subjectively feel better. Also, still coughing a fair amount of crap out of my lungs, so I'd like that to clear more, as well.

For comparison, wife and daughter both caught covid at the same time. Wife's current situation similar to mine (though she doesn't run) but lungs worse. Daughter back to running (easy) about 5 days after the worst of it and kicked the crap out of me on yesterday's run.

I got the initial 2 jabs and then the booster(had to for work). I won’t get another mRNA shot but am not against vaccines in general. Just vaccines that have minimal to no longitudinal data regarding side effects. I’ve had CoViD 2X that I’m aware. First time I had CoViD was prior to being vaccinated and it was mild. Second time was after(omnicron) and it hit me worse for what it’s worth. Took me a approx month to get back to normal training both times. 2 weeks off plus two weeks ramping back up. I felt fine after 10 days but figured it would be prudent to ease back in. Nether time did I have upper respiratory symptoms. I understand that recovery from viruses varies for individuals.

My biggest symptom was vertigo. It was awful. I couldn't get out of bed without heaving. When I recovered from that I probably took about a week off from physical activity and when I started back it was with rowing and a stationary bike. When I started back to cycling and running it just felt as if I was mildly out of shape for a week. After that I felt normal again.

Oh, I’m 53

Age 61 when ill, age 63 today. Unvaccinated (ZERO doses).

It's been 1201 days since the Covid madness was declared on March 10 2020. In that time, I was sick for 2 days, Jan. 9 & 10 2022. Certain it was the omicron variant. Mild flu like symptoms for 2 days with a 6 hour fever spike of over 102 F. The congestion gradually cleared over the next 10 days. I had taken a break from running. Stopped walking.

Jan 6 2022: Walked 2.6 miles
Jan 7 to 24 2022: No activity
Jan 25 2022: Walked 2.6 miles

Started back running in March 2022. That was my plan with or without getting sick.

I have had worse illnesses.

Last run on a public record was a few weeks ago, a day after my 63rd birthday. 5 miles in 42:21.

I've had a total of 5 Covid shots (2 initial, 2 boosters, 1 bivalent booster) and have had Covid twice, and both times were right after running marathons when presumably my immunity was somewhat suppressed.

The first time having Covid was a few weeks after the bivalent booster. I had a headache, sore throat, and occasional cough for several days, but no fever. Felt pretty lousy for a few days, and kept testing positive for over a week. Because it was post-marathon, I had planned to take time off of running anyway. My first run back was 9-10 days after initially testing positive and was not great, but seemingly no worse than first runs back after marathons always are. I continued to gradually ease back into running over the next several weeks and didn't notice anything unusual other than my heartrate being a bit higher than normal for awhile.

The second time having Covid was about 6 months after the first, and I had not had any Covid shots since the bivalent booster just before Covid round 1. Again just after a marathon when I would have taken time off from running anyway. The second time was milder than the first - my only symptoms were a runny nose for 2 or 3 days. I still tested positive for over a week though. Returning to running went about the same as after the first time, with no apparent long term effects.

Thoughts and prayers.

60-years old, J&J vaccine, no boosters.

I've had covid twice since the vaccine. First time had a bad sore throat and congestion. Took off running for about 5 days. Back to normal running within a week of starting.

Second time. Mild sore throat and congestion. Took 1 day off. Back to normal running within a week.

I will say that part of the problem with getting sick in your 50s is that you lose fitness quicker and it takes longer to get it back. Taking 3 weeks off at 55 is like taking 3 months off when you're 25.

Are you sure it's long covid? It could be a vaccine injury. Still, both have similar treatments.

These will help, in order of importance:

1. Intermittent daily fasting or periodic daily fasts
2. Ivermectin; 0.2-0.3 mg/kg daily
3. Moderating physical activity
4. Low-dose naltrexone (LDN); 1- 4.5 mg daily
5. Nattokinase 100-200 mg (2000- 4000 Fibrinolytic Units) twice daily.
6. Melatonin; 2-6 mg slow release/extended release prior to bedtime
7. Magnesium; 100-400 mg daily
8. Methylene blue; 10-30 mg daily