10K trail race & Chest cough?

Lesleycali

Hi everyone!

6 months ago I decided to start trail running, I signed up for a race on Thanksgiving to keep me motivated. I went from having to hike/ run to being able to run straight for up to 13.1 miles. The past few months I've really upped my mileage (about 90 miles a month) and started focusing on speed. I even placed 1st in my division on a 5K trail a few weeks ago. The whole time I've been so focused and excited for this Turkey Trot.

Then, last week my little one came down with hand, foot, and mouth disease and so I missed some runs taking care of her. Then I got sick, now it is a chesty cough with phlegm. Although I don't feel TERRIBLE, I feel tired and am coughing a lot. I haven't run in 6 days.

I don't know what to do now, try to cram in runs with this cough? Rest until Thursday then give it everything I've got? Also how do I deal with my disappointment?

I would really appreciate any advice or encouragement. Thank you

AnthonyThrashD

If I was you, I'd sit this one out, look for a 10K race after T-day, recoop & then get back to training for the next race. That's my delayed not denied approach. There is no disappointment to deal with, if you have another race to run.

Best of luck

lloydrt

hope you guys continue to improve les.....life can be challenging, hang in there, this will be in the past before you know it..........dont let emotional eating creep up on ya, im the worst, and I try to hard not to fall in that old routine.......hang in there....Lloyd

stackhsc

only you know how you feel. often i have run with a chest cold and feel better after wards. Id say maybe try one easy run before, dont try to break records.
on race day go, take coughdrops, some klenex, maybe some gum. Again go for finishing it, not for a pb. Do what you can and enjoy it. Worst case you have to drop out, most likely you will do just fine. Make sure you are well hydrated!

SonicDeathMonkey80

Cramming in runs between now and your race will only make you mentally feel good. If you think it's going to keep you fit, that ship sailed about 3 weeks ago. Hay's in the barn at this point. If it's just a cough but I could otherwise breath and not have that overall fatigued/burning feeling, I'd get out there and do it, but with easy effort.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

My "advice" would be to recover and make a last-minute call. You don't want to get sicker, especially with a little one relying on you.
That being said, I often don't heed my own advice and I would probably go for it, hack up a lung, and collapse at the finish line

Lesleycali

ok guys, thanks for your replies!

I think I'm going to try it, and accept this is most likely not going to be my moment to shine! I'm also signing up tonight for a trail 10K in December, so as soon as I shake this thing I have a new goal to work towards. And yes, I guess nothing I can do in the next 3 days will change my fitness level so I might do one EASY run and say that's it.

Man, I'm bummed though, but I'm learning long term goals (like becoming a better runner) are as much about navigating through the problems as they are about sailing through the easy times.

Cheers and thanks!