How soon can I get back to running after flu?

[SueClements]

I was on week 8 of C5K when I came down with flu. After a week, I'm still feeling exhausted - had to go to bed for two hours yesterday after a trip to the local Co-op! Is it OK to carry on from where I left off as soon as I feel better, or would it be better to go back a few weeks? My partner thinks I should start again from the beginning, but this seems a bit extreme to me.

[Millsie-J Graduate]

I would do a couple of shorter runs first, maybe do one week 3, then one week four, then when you feel you have your energy back go to last run of week 7 and onwards thereafter. But listen to your body when you run, and adapt your restart accordingly.

Good luck runner😀🏃🏻‍♀️

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Take it easy, I know you must feel so close now but your body needs to recover from the horrible invasion it's just gone through. Start with a walk and see how you feel. Then add in some little runs while on your walks. If your gasping or coughing from the run your not quite ready, take some more time. Then when your ready go back to week 6 and see how that feels, if it's not right go back to week 4. You are going to be running for years to come you can take the time, the last thing you need is to lower your immune system any more right now. Treat yourself with lots of TLC. take care Rfc x.

[McFitty Graduate]

What Jacsort and Richard said Try some shorter runs to ease yourself back in and see how you feel. Flu can knock you for six even without running! Get well soon xx

[McFitty Graduate in reply to McFitty]

Jacsort and Richard? Damn you autocorrect! That would have been Jacs and Richard then 😂

[McFitty Graduate in reply to McFitty]

Aaaaargh!...Jacs and Rfc 😤

[melly4012 Graduate]

Agreed with the other comments. See how you feel - don't go expecting to start from a particular place, just see how you go. You won't actually lose too much fitness after just a couple of weeks so it will just depend on whether your body has fully recovered. Once you feel properly better, pick a run, try it out and then adjust from there!

[petrometro Graduate]

I dropped back 1 run in weeks 6, the one before walking drops off the radar. A friend says to me that the body makes an image of your running and so you could drop it for a couple of weeks and within a couple of runs be back where you left off.