Running Chicago next week and hoping to run sub 3 but I have been sick since Thursday. Its a cold, blocked sinuses, chest congestion high temp etc.
I was in my taper and skipped an 8m thursday, friday was a scheduled rest day and today I skipped a 5m. I am supposed to run 10m tomorrow.
I have averaged 50mpw during training. Any advice on what mileage to do this week? Should I do my 10 tomorrow if I am not 100%?
Thanks
Bump
If I were you, no. You need to get healthy first and you frankly don't have enough time to fully recover as it is.
My experience has been that during a head cold, you have one good hard run left in you. Don't use it before the race. You'll feel terrible afterwards, but fine during.
If it's still in your chest or there's a fever, I'd personally reboot my training and sign up for another race in a month or so. Unless there's some reason you have to run this specific race.
If you already paid for travel and everything, treat it like a vacation. Can you switch to the half or 10k? Volunteer, see the city, do some training and look for next marathon close to home. Good luck.
I wasn't even thinking if skipping the race unless I still feel like this next saturday! I am just trying to figure out when I should get back running and how much to do. Think I will see how I feel tomorrow and if I am up to running I will try a few miles.
I don't think a cold the week before would derail my marathon plans?
Don't run. Nothing you do now is going to affect next Sunday. It's all in the bank. I bet you could not take another step until the race and you wouldn't notice. Just focus on resting, getting better and saving energy. You still have a week.
Play it by ear. If you feel better and WANT to run 10 miles, go for it. Don't force yourself to do it if you feel like s*it. But the temperature and chest congestion have me thinking you should lay low and get as healthy as possible.
Update just in case anyone cares ... Felt a lot better this morning after resting 3 days. Just some congestion on my chest so I went out for a run and said i would go easy and turn back if I didnt feel good. I felt great so I ran 10 nice and easy 7:30 pace.
The plan for the week will is:
M - 4
T - 5 with some strides at the end
W - rest
T - 5 (mile warm up 3m @ mp mile warm down)
F - travel / rest
S - 2m easy to settle the nerves and a few strides
S - raceday
If i feel bad tomorrow I'll rest again.