Around the beginning of October I caught the first of what turned out to be almost continuous colds/infections for nearly 3 months. In that time, I started to find running harder and harder, struggled with breathing, had to have walking breaks and had an uncontrollable cough for at least an hour after every run. Towards the end of January I admit I was complaining a lot and even thought about packing in running but, nagged by Mr Sandie, I decided to see my gp. She suggested I had post viral damage to my respiratory system (subsequent blood tests and chest x-ray were all normal) and prescribed me an inhaler just to use 10 minutes before a run and which I will hopefully be able to stop using again in time.
The low point came when I went to Stratford parkrun for Shake-and-run ’s 50th parkrun on 28th January, having to take 3 walking breaks and coming in at over 36 minutes (previous 2 were sub 30) and it was make or break time. Shakes had decided to do RED February and persuaded me to give it a go (at least it’s 3 days shorter than January 😂). I signed up officially and paid my money for the rather lovely medal and decided I’d do at least 2k a day, with the main goal being to get back to running 10k non-stop by the end of the month, something I hadn’t done since Lincoln 10k on 30th October.
My plan was to go out for my club runs on Mondays and Thursdays (45 minutes plus WU and CD), parkrun on Saturday, one progressively longer run each week starting at 6k and shorter runs on the other 3 days finishing today with 10k. Apart from a small blip when I wimped out on my 8k run, I stuck to the plan and it worked. This morning I set off, in a light drizzle, along one of my usual training routes, taking it nice and steady, breathing and legs feeling good, listening to Kaye Adams’ podcast “How To Be 60” for company. My final time was 1.12.32, which is way slower than my previous 10k time, but it felt comfortable and the inhaler is doing its job at stopping the coughing. Total distance for the month 132.11k. Just need to start to work on pace again!
Shakes and I are meeting our Norwegian friends in London tomorrow for a couple of days, but have scheduled in a 5k round Hyde Park on Friday morning to celebrate a successful month 🥳🥳
For all of you, who have been having similar difficulties with seasonal illnesses (and I know there are huge numbers of us), I would recommend seeing if your gp can offer some help and I can assure you that you can get through it given time and patience. Happy running!
Written by
Sandie1961
Graduate10
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Well done on all levels Sandie. For perservering, for NOT packing it all in (our meetups …. 😩), for seeing your GP and listening, for RED Feb and for your awesome running achievements this month. ❤️
You know I’ve had hideous bugs and post viral fatigue too, and this autumn/winter has been atrocious for many of us. Roll on spring. 🌸
Amen cheeky! Two people I met this morning said that they had had this bug and it took 2 months to get over it. No more day time bed for me; this bug is in my sights!
Well done Sandie1961 , you've achieved your goal and beaten the bugs. Glad your GP was able to help you with the breathing difficulties, my kids used to get coughing type asthma in the winter but come summer they were fine (and they grew out of it). Hope it works the same way for you too.
Thank you 😊 I really wasn’t keen on having the inhaler, but it is helping and I’m hoping as I improve and the weather gets warmer, I’ll be able to dispense with it again 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Thanks Sandie. This is really timely. I have spent much of the last three days in bed, and in retrospect, I think my ridiculously high heart rate on slow runs and increased ARH are all down to this dreaded chest bug which has struck me! Ironically I was at the surgery last week for my annual MOT and I was offered a “stronger “ inhaler. I said no on the basis that I was managing, but the last few days have changed my mind. Your account has strengthened my resolve to ring up and see if the offer is still open. I went out for a short walk in the woods this morning, just to keep my limbs moving. Running is out of the question. Our psychiatrist friend told us this morning that older people are like racehorses; you have to get them back on their feet as soon as possible!
So glad it helps. These colds/chest infections/winter bugs are felling us right left and centre, but let’s hope that as Spring arrives, we will all be able to get back nearer to normal 🤞🏻🤞🏻I was very reluctant to accept the inhaler and I would like to get rid of it again as soon as I can run without coughing again, but in the meantime, it’s helping. Hope you feel better soon and go enjoy your walks in the fresh air until then xx
Thank you 😊 It has been a tough few months, but hopefully I’m coming out of it. Mr S and I are off to Spain and Portugal for a month in the van at the weekend, so looking forward to running in warmer weather in new places 😃😃
Well done Sandie on overcoming your setbacks...where there is a will, there's a way!🏃♀️👍Good luck with continuing good health and some happy running. 🤞🌿xxx
Very Well Done Sandie1961 (and Shake-and-run . I’m not sure I could run every day but I applaud anyone who can. Thank goodness you have got your breathing right again with a little help from the inhaler. I went through a similar spate of not being able to run without stopping to catch my breath, and I know how frustrating it can be. Times went completely out the window. But you are now coming out of the other side.
Mine are crossed, the one we had just after Christmas meant only 1 run in January, I've managed 7 in February, hopefully Match will be more. Hoping you keep cold free
Something was definitely dragging me down during autumn last year, too. The weather didn't help, of course. The natural reaction to the COVID and Flu boosters probably didn't help things either. Not that I would ever avoid a vaccine -- the alternatives would be much worse.
Thank you 😊 The fact that I had 3 fixed commitments a week with Trotters and parkrun helped with my accountability and being retired does mean I can’t make excuses like you working people 😂
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