Advice please!

[Patchpet]

I should have started week 8 on Monday but was feeling terrible and wasn’t able to run. Feeling slightly better, though tired, a little achy and my chest is feeling very tight (asthmatic).

Do I rest and start on Monday or the weekend if I can?

Do I need to do week 7 again ( I had no problems and finished all three runs well!) Or do I just run tomorrow even though not back to ‘normal’.

I don’t want to undo all my good work, have had no problems with my asthma and even improved,y peak flow by over 100 in my yearly check up.

Advice gratefully received as I wanted to finish before Christmas and complete at least one park run by the end of January.

Thank you

[RevRunner Graduate]

You probably won’t need to repeat the whole week. When I was forced into a three week break around about W3 or 4, I cam back by trying to repeat the last run I’d done and it worked OK so I carried on from there, straight on to the next run. If I hadn’t have gone well, I would have repeated again with a view to moving on if all went well that time. I think you have to go with how you feel when you run and work with what your body tells you.

Go for it and good luck with the rest of the programme 😁

[Patchpet Graduate in reply to RevRunner]

Thank you, so if I feel ok and can run 28 minutes just continue with week 8? I think I will run Saturday just to give my body a fighting chance.

Just disappointed with myself as my health has improved so much and must just take this as a blip. Hopefully I will graduate Christmas Eve!

[RevRunner Graduate in reply to Patchpet]

Ultimately it’s your decision depending on how you feel when you feel ready to try running again.

Best to err on the side of caution, but if you run and feel OK, then you can decide whether you want to repeat to be sure or go for the next run, knowing that you can choose to back off if you think better of it when you are out there.

[Patchpet Graduate in reply to RevRunner]

Thank you

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Hi Patchpet, so sorry you’ve been unwell.👎

There’s absolutely no need to repeat W7, especially as you had no problems before. Give yourself an extra rest day or two and make sure you feel better - there’s no hurry and you won’t lose fitness in that short time - then head out on W8 super slowly and see how you feel.

Good luck! 😀

[Patchpet Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you I am going home to bed and hopefully back to normal tomorrow

[Purpleandpink Graduate]

Hi Patchpet. Sorry to hear you're feeling unwell. I am asthmatic too (diagnosed after I started running this summer) and last week I thought I was over a cold and went out on a run. The cold went straight back onto my chest and has put my recovery back 😩. I never normally need to use my inhaler other than pre-run but now I'm using during the day just to ease things off enough to feel well. So I wouldn't risk it again and I'd take a few extra days off. You won't lose the fitness but it's not worth risking the progress you have made in terms of your asthma improving. My asthma is triggered by the cold so this weather is not good for my running. I'm lucky to get out once a week at the moment but doing lots of strength training on other days. Be kind to yourself & take it easy. You have lots and lots of running days ahead 😀.

[Patchpet Graduate in reply to Purpleandpink]

Thank you not good at being kind to me but trying. I will probably not finish between Christmas and New Year

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Rest..rest..rest..the runs wait..You need to listen to your body and be kind to yourself.

We will be here..waiting for you xx

[Patchpet Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you I know you are right and must not get set on graduating before Christmas. I am home in pj's and know I'm not able to run. Thank you everyone for all your advice and kind wishes. I will be back but maybe start next week. I am not giving up!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Patchpet]

I have had so many set backs.. annoyingly non running related.. but I do know that the runs always remain Just be sensible!!! xx

[Patchpet Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I know and must just think this is a habit for life not just for Christmas! X

[Ceri1969 Graduate]

I believe the general advice is above the neck, then you can run, but below the neck ie chest cold etc then you should rest.

Must be annoying I guess to stop but it won’t be for long. You need rest when you are unwell, listen to your body. Take care xxx

[Patchpet Graduate]

I am so grateful to this forum and how people are so kind and helpful. Watch this space after Christmas when I graduate x