Sick with Half Marathon pending? HELP

jaimesoo

I have been so lucky in the past to be sick on down time and always ready for races. With a new baby we have been sicker than normal lately. I am signed up for a 1/2 on Saturday the 16th (in 2 days) and missed 10 days mid training with a bad chest cold but felt confident that I was caught up on my runs and was still trained enough to run... then came dwn with a sore throat 7 days ago and it is still hanging on. What do i do? I feel like such a quitter for not running it but don't want to jeopardize my health either. I can downsize tomorrow at packet pickup to the 7k from the half if need be too.... What would YOU do? I ran 3miles Tuesday and it felt fine. I am going to run 3 again tonight and most likely again tomorrow to stay warmed up. The mental problem that i am having is that when i told someone yesterday that i was running on saturday and invited them to come watch they said "have you even been running enough to be ready for that??" which fueled me to want to do it even more because they questioned my ability to do it... now i feel like i would be proving them right if i don't go.... AAAAAAH Sorry but i need more voices in my head to help me. :grumble: :grumble:

ATT949

I have been so lucky in the past to be sick on down time and always ready for races. With a new baby we have been sicker than normal lately. I am signed up for a 1/2 on Saturday the 16th (in 2 days) and missed 10 days mid training with a bad chest cold but felt confident that I was caught up on my runs and was still trained enough to run... then came dwn with a sore throat 7 days ago and it is still hanging on. What do i do? I feel like such a quitter for not running it but don't want to jeopardize my health either. I can downsize tomorrow at packet pickup to the 7k from the half if need be too.... What would YOU do? I ran 3miles Tuesday and it felt fine. I am going to run 3 again tonight and most likely again tomorrow to stay warmed up. The mental problem that i am having is that when i told someone yesterday that i was running on saturday and invited them to come watch they said "have you even been running enough to be ready for that??" which fueled me to want to do it even more because they questioned my ability to do it... now i feel like i would be proving them right if i don't go.... AAAAAAH Sorry but i need more voices in my head to help me. :grumble: :grumble:

It sounds like you were pretty well trained for the run but you've missed the last two+ weeks. If that's the case, why not run the race but at a slower pace?

If the issue is "Am I healthy enough to run?", no one here can judge that. I think it's in "the Lore of Running" that it's OK to train if the "cold" is above the neck but you should avoid if if it's below the neck.

bfcano

I had a similar experience recently, I'm racing this Sunday but I've had a cold the last two weeks. Nothing to keep me home sick but more annoying that it wouldn't go away so I scaled back my running. I had time for only one more long run last weekend and I still felt a little sick with a running nose. I started out slow not wanting to push myself and lo and behold my body took charge and was feeling good and finished a 10 miler at a good pace. I hadn't run in almost two weeks but I'd been doing other things like the elliptical and some spinning and I have to tell you it was one of the best long runs because my legs felt more rested than they usually do. I almost think it was a blessing in disguise.
Regarding your situation, I'm not sure how many half marathons you've done, I've done 4 and I have a good idea of if and when I can push myself. If you've done a half before there's no doubt you will finish just fine it's just a matter of what pace you can keep . If you're not feverish or experiencing body aches I would say go for it! Start out slow and just see how your body feels. I guarantee by mile 7 you'll forget you were even questioning yourself.

LisaO85

I have been so lucky in the past to be sick on down time and always ready for races. With a new baby we have been sicker than normal lately. I am signed up for a 1/2 on Saturday the 16th (in 2 days) and missed 10 days mid training with a bad chest cold but felt confident that I was caught up on my runs and was still trained enough to run... then came dwn with a sore throat 7 days ago and it is still hanging on. What do i do? I feel like such a quitter for not running it but don't want to jeopardize my health either. I can downsize tomorrow at packet pickup to the 7k from the half if need be too.... What would YOU do? I ran 3miles Tuesday and it felt fine. I am going to run 3 again tonight and most likely again tomorrow to stay warmed up. The mental problem that i am having is that when i told someone yesterday that i was running on saturday and invited them to come watch they said "have you even been running enough to be ready for that??" which fueled me to want to do it even more because they questioned my ability to do it... now i feel like i would be proving them right if i don't go.... AAAAAAH Sorry but i need more voices in my head to help me. :grumble: :grumble:

It sounds like you were pretty well trained for the run but you've missed the last two+ weeks. If that's the case, why not run the race but at a slower pace?

If the issue is "Am I healthy enough to run?", no one here can judge that. I think it's in "the Lore of Running" that it's OK to train if the "cold" is above the neck but you should avoid if if it's below the neck.

I agree. If you have run races before you know what your body is capable of. As long as you are not feverish or body aches I would go for it. Take it slow the first couple miles and see how you feel, then you can kick it into gear if all is going well.

Good luck-

ZenInTexas

The week before my half I was down and out with a nasty sinus infection. I still ran. Didn't do as well as I wanted to time wise but I figured the only thing that would have stopped me from running that race was being in the hospital or dead. I say go for it!

jaimesoo

Thank you everyone!! I decided that I agreed that unless i was in the hospital or dead - i had no excuse. And i have to say the whole about the chest thing makes sense - you don't realize it but you really never swallow when running so now i am just dealing with a cough post race from the cold temps but i finished and I finished under my goal time... well i goaled for under 2:20 and i finished in EXACTLY 2:20 so i will take that as GOAL MET! Thank you again for your encouragement!

natalie412

Congrats on a great race!

ZenInTexas

Way to go!!! Congratulations!!

MinimalistShoeAddict

Congratulations!