First run after a stinking cold laid me low for two weeks

[Miss_T_Ide]

I got up this morning and thought that it might be time to start running again, having stopped while I nursed a stinking cold. I still have some residual phlegm which is making me cough, but I thought I would risk it. I wasn't sure whether to pick it up where I left off (my last run was Week 5 Run 1, so I was due to do the second run of week 5), or to repeat my last run, on the basis that I'm working up to Week 5 Run 3 and I have not only not run for two weeks, but I've felt pretty weak. I decided to go for it and do Week 5 Run 2 anyway on the basis that you shouldn't really lose fitness in two weeks. And I did it! The first 8 min run was fine and I was impatient for the 5 min walk to finish so that I could do the second one. However, my legs felt a bit like jelly about a minute in. I kept going (I was going fairly slowly) and I ran through it and began to feel better again. When Laura told me that I only had a minute left I decided that I would push myself for the last 30s or so and so, when I judged I was about half way through my final minute, I stepped it up a bit. After all, that's how you build fitness, right? Anyway, I think I must have judged it about right as I felt very slightly sick at the end of it, but I was perfectly able to do my 5 min warm-down walk. But the thing that amazed me most was that running did not set off my cough. Result!

[Jellymum Graduate]

Sounds like a great return after your break - I've also been unable to run for the last two weeks due to calf pain. Just about ready to get out there again - part of me feels quite nervous, like I might have completely forgotten how to run or be back to square one, but your post has given me hope, so thanks!

[Miss_T_Ide Graduate in reply to Jellymum]

It is quite reassuring to know that you don't lose fitness as quickly as you gain it! I haven't run again today because for the last couple of days I've felt like I just want to be asleep in bed and my legs have been a bit like jelly. Think I still have a little way to go before I'm completely over my cold, but I've got my 'flu jab tomorrow so I'm hoping I'm nearly there! Good luck with your run!