Running While Sick
Despite my stubbornness, a really bad cold has kept me indoors for the past nine days. Doctor’s diagnosis: upper respiratory infection and sinus infection. Running sites will tell you to take a break if you’re sick like this. (Great tips here from Runner’s World.) In the past, I’ve been able to battle through most illnesses and at least squeak out three or four miles. I did 14 miles last Friday, the day I got sick. I didn’t run again until yesterday, and I did eight. The feeling in my legs was unbelievable as I picked up my pace from a walk to a run. My legs were so glad to stretch out and GO! My lungs tried to hold me back the whole way. My chest was burning, and even now, it hurts to the touch; I can only imagine how congested I must be. I wanted to put a sign on my back, for all runners to see: “I’m sick, not out of shape. Pardon me as I huff and puff.” Even in my sickness, my competitiveness got the best of me. My goal starting out was three miles, then I switched to an hour, finally I stopped at eight.
I took today off because I ended up working a really long day. I can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow. I’m still sick and a bit congested, but not being able to run makes me feel so much worse. There’s nothing like the post run euphoria to make you feel like things are going to get better- you’re not going to be sick forever. I’m headed to Cincinnati this weekend. I’ll probably get in a couple short runs while I’m there, but not my scheduled long runs. That means, tomorrow and Wednesday I have my work cut out for me! 
