I've been sick for so long. How do I get back to running?

One step at a time.

You start where you are and build from there. The past is the past. The bigger concern is that you're still sick and that's something that you need to fix first. You should probably get checked for anemia, white blood cell counts, etc. If you're not ready for the Area level competition, so what? Get better and work hard over the summer to do well next year.

I was literally on the couch for 4 years - cancer/chemo/shattered knee. My first "run" after I learned to walk again was 400 yards. Then 500 yards. Then a mile after a few months. One step at a time and gradually picking up speed.

Cut an arm off. Loss of weight due to arm being cut off = increase in vo2 max

I kid. But seriously, as pointed out youre just going to have to start from where youre currently at. I set PRs all over the spectrum last year but then I got sick (about october) and was out for a month and I’m still not quite back to my previous PR shape yet. I’m actually about 40 seconds behind my PR shape in the mile right now and about 2 minutes in the 5k but at the start of the year that would have been closer to 1.25 minutes/4 minutes away from PR shape. I have terrible cardio genetics so it takes AGES for me to respond to training so my fitness is building bak up very slowly. Others can gain it back very quickly after taking a break (lucky) so hopefully you’re one of those people and can get back to racing hard and fast very soon.

All you can do is train at your current VDOT. If you try to train at your old fitness levels it might not result in optimal improvement/conditioning so for the time being take it easy, build back up and gradually get back into training hard and fast.

I hope you're at your best after not running for such a long time.

(By the way, I live in the Southern hemisphere so it's sadly winter)

I hope I'll get better by tomorrow so after I get better like you said I can start from where I am.

Maybe I can run less than as I get better run more.

The only problem with missing the Area competition is I can't compete at State level like I did last year. It's the top 6 or maybe the top 10 that make it through to state. Last year I came 4th. Also a few days after the Are competition I have two more competitions.

I searched the computer and I don't think I have anemia because I don't have all the signs of it. But It's really hard to get better.

hahaha (i won't cut my precious arm off )

I hope you get back to your PB shape. It's sad that you also take a long time to get better.

I'm about a minute to a minute and a half slower than my PR for the 4km which is bad since now a lot of people beat me. Before I got sick I was in my PR shape. If I get sick for two weeks then I get back to training pretty quickly. I did run a few times while I was sick but today I ran terribly. About 3 or 4 weeks ago I ran OK-ish for cross country while I was sickish but the sickness got worse a week later. What's a VDOT?

Thanks for the advice

Cut out cheese, chocolate and ice cream (though yogurt is fine). Have an orange, a kiwifruit and some nuts during the day. Cut back on sugar too.

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

Cut out cheese, chocolate and ice cream (though yogurt is fine). Have an orange, a kiwifruit and some nuts during the day. Cut back on sugar too.

Try very strong echinacea as well.

Thanks! Hope you feel better soon and get back up to speed.

Unfortunately, I have permanent side effects from chemo and from the broken bones and will likely never be able to run fast or far again. But I'm a masters runner and have now learned to just enjoy running in whatever form.

Thanks for the advice. I definitely don't eat ice cream in Winter most of the time anyway. ( at school my friend offered me an Ice block and I said no because it's gonna freeze my throat) I have cut back on chocolate ( So if I get offered any chocolate I just say 'no' or save it till after I get better) And I don't eat a lot of cheese anyway well in the past few weeks I haven't eaten any. The last time I ate Ice cream was umm...... like 3 weeks ago. Soon I'll eat some walnuts and there are no more kiwifruits left ( because I ate them all) hmmm oranges I'll see if we have any. Yes, I do try to cut back on sugar but today it was really hard because my ''bread roll'' had butter on it even though I didn't ask for any. Every Thursday at school there's this lunchtime club I go to and there's always sugary stuff like: chips lollies and timtams. But I don't take any and eat my healthy lunch instead.

I don't know what echinacea is but I'll ask my mum for some.

Anybody know what VDOT stands for?

The world ain't sunshine and roses, Cathy.

Right now you sound like a sweet girl. But in the realm of competition, you gotta be tough.

I'm a post-collegiate runner trying to get into Major League Soccer. My roommate always tries shooting down my dreams because all he cares about is his accounting degree and earning money and having a stable life. Even then, everything he says to me is negative because he can't believe I have my own DREAMS.

Cathy, you gotta get strong. Don't let being sick kill your will to get back to running. You may be delayed, but keep that passion inside you.

Seriously, I'm trying to get into NE Revolution, and if anyone has connections, I'm here. (I have the best acceleration and passing ability. I just need a chance to show it off).

Make sure you are getting enough sleep (8hrs) every night, and have Vitamin C (via food or drops/gummies) to help boost your immune system. As for the fitness, your best bet is to not stress out and realize that running is a long-term sport and it will come. Start building back up to the mileage and intensity you were at and remember its always easier getting there(fitness level) the second time around. You will likely not perform well at your XC meet in a week, and that's OK.

- RunnerSam

RunnerSamm wrote:

Make sure you are getting enough sleep (8hrs) every night, and have Vitamin C (via food or drops/gummies) to help boost your immune system. As for the fitness, your best bet is to not stress out and realize that running is a long-term sport and it will come. Start building back up to the mileage and intensity you were at and remember its always easier getting there(fitness level) the second time around. You will likely not perform well at your XC meet in a week, and that's OK.

- RunnerSam

Yeah you were right. I did terribly at the cross country today. I vomited after the race but like you said it's OK. Well, I'm going to the next level State anyway even though I literally got a 40 second personal worst. Now I need to get to back to my PB shape in a month and a bit. Today I got 6hrs of sleep (well only 2hrs off) And yeah I'm gonna take my daily dose of Vitamin C now. And yes since it's a long-term sport hopefully my PR self will come back before the 27th of July.

-Runnergirl Cathy

get real kid wrote:

The world ain't sunshine and roses, Cathy.

Right now you sound like a sweet girl. But in the realm of competition, you gotta be tough.

I'm a post-collegiate runner trying to get into Major League Soccer. My roommate always tries shooting down my dreams because all he cares about is his accounting degree and earning money and having a stable life. Even then, everything he says to me is negative because he can't believe I have my own DREAMS.

Cathy, you gotta get strong. Don't let being sick kill your will to get back to running. You may be delayed, but keep that passion inside you.

Seriously, I'm trying to get into NE Revolution, and if anyone has connections, I'm here. (I have the best acceleration and passing ability. I just need a chance to show it off).

Yes, the world at the moment is anything but Sunshine and Roses. Today I felt like giving up on running because my fitness is very bad and I'm very delayed. Because today I came 5th which is verrrry bad and I vomited after the race. Then I read your post and told myself no don't give up. I'm sure you'll get into Major league soccer. Tell your roommate This girl said money isn't everything. So basically say this to your roommate: "money isn't everything so stop shooting down my dreams" How do I get tough if I'm weak?

lehrski wrote:

Thanks! Hope you feel better soon and get back up to speed.

Unfortunately, I have permanent side effects from chemo and from the broken bones and will likely never be able to run fast or far again. But I'm a masters runner and have now learned to just enjoy running in whatever form.

I replied to you earlier and it didn't go through so I just realised that. It's so sad that you had to go through chemo and broken bones. Especially 4 years! I hope the words "masters runner" means a really really fast runner because I hope you are. My cousin said there was one girl who couldn't walk then she became a really fast runner. So hopefully you'll be like that girl and get to be the fastest again! Tell me if you improove really well because I check comments on this page.

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