I’ve caught covid 😭

[Wwps]

so after 10 days away from running on holiday, I managed a repeat of w5r2.

And then I tested positive for covid 😭 must have caught it on the way home. Absolutely gutted! Think am over the worst of it however, so I’m looking for - not advice exactly - but wondering what others experiences are in terms of returning to running post covid.

I’ll not rush, listen to my body etc etc but with my first bout (which was worse, 6 months ago) I had peaks and troughs of illness for the following three months or so. Back up to fitness since, but I’m obviously frustrated as I was keen to pick up where I’d left off.

what are others experiences?

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

So sad to hear you have had it again. Hopefully if your symptoms weren’t as bad your post covid recovery will be better this time round. The only way is to test yourself on a week 4 or 5 run… do it slowly & see how you go.. all well continue.. otherwise rest a few days longer then drop back a week.. the runs will wait.. & before you know it you will be out there again. Hydration extremely important any time but more so after a viral infection.. I had covid at Christmas very badly.. took me a few months before I felt able to run again & I had to literally start from Week 1 again but never looked back after that. Hope you feel better soon!!

[Wwps Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

thanks for your reply! Sorry to hear you had it so badly. Will do a week 4 run perhaps, as I imagine it will be another two weeks til I attempt it, and see how I go. I reaaaaally hope it’s a swift recovery, but you’re right, the runs will wait……🙈🙈🫤

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

That is tough.

As with any break from running you need to appropriately build yourself back up again.

Many of us have had to restart C25K after illness, injury or other break and there is no shame in having to start from W1R1, if necessary.

In total, I have restarted C25K six times, and apart from the two occasions when my injuries were not ready, it worked.

You have the right attitude.........it works.

Take care.

[Wwps Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

thanks. It’s not the shame of restarting, more the frustration that’s doing it for me at the moment as I was so pleased I’d made it to w5r3, and was enjoying the running and feeling like my fitness had improved. But I’ll need to rebuild either way, it’s just a shame on the timing - though there’s never a good time for catching covid or getting sick/injured!

[AngeScott Graduate]

I had Covid in June. I’d just completed week 2! My doc advised me not to run for 4 weeks and then to get my blood pressure checked before running again. I did and all was ok so now I’m back - started again at week 1 and am now going into week 6! Hope you feel better soon

[Wwps Graduate in reply to AngeScott]

well done for getting to week 6, that’s great! Good to know re doctor. Will prepare myself for starting from week 1 again 😭

[Wwps Graduate in reply to AngeScott]

wondering if it was 4 weeks from your positive test or 4 weeks since you were clear of covid? I imagine the latter but would be good to know!

[AngeScott Graduate in reply to Wwps]

Thanks. This is my second time doing C25K so I think I’ve learnt to listen to my body better and go slowly.

It was 4 weeks from my positive test. I actually thought I had an allergic reaction, I visited the doc and was given steroids because my chest was bad. I tested later that eve (after a colleague tested positive). I had to ring the surgery the next day and apologise for coming in with covid and think they said get the BP checked because it has affected my chest. You might be ok just going back a week or two . It’ll depend how you feel when your symptoms have gone. Maybe try week 4 when you feel up to it and then if you don’t manage it go back to week 3.

[Wwps Graduate in reply to AngeScott]

ace, thank you!

[nowster Graduate]

It really depends on how the virus affects you this time. For me, it was just a week of feeling rubbish with a few cold/flu type symptoms alongside a couple of weird ones (a coolness in the lungs and a feeling like I'd burnt the roof of my mouth). I bounced back within a week of testing negative.

You may not be so lucky. All you can do is work with what you have. Take it gradually and don't push things. When you're feeling ready, try walking for half an hour and see how that affects you.

Then maybe another walk with a couple of gentle jogs between pairs of lampposts. Play it by ear.

I'd suggest going back to week 3 when you do eventually resume.

[Yesletsgo Graduate]

Almost exactly the same thing happened to me Wwps . A few weeks of holiday then covid. Luckily it wasn't too bad but I noticed that I was getting tired quicker than I'd like. I left it just over 2 weeks from when I tested positive before trying a 3km run (I normally do 5km). After a week or so I went back to three times a week of around 5k.

Just take it easy. You'll know if you're overdoing it, just run a bit less and a bit slower. Good luck

[Wwps Graduate]

thanks everyone for your supportive and really useful responses. It’s helped me get my head around the frustration of pausing and going back a bit.

Am through the worst of covid now so will give myself another week or two and try a week 3 run and see how I go (depending on how walking w the pram goes in the meantime!)

Will let you know how I get on 🤞🤞

[WhaleSongC Graduate]

I got covid for the first time right before week 9 run 1. It was 8 weeks before I felt ready to run again - and I also found myself having to start over! If that does happen, don't despair, I am enjoying the second time around so much Still getting fatigued three months post - but now I dont feel the rush to catch up and stick to the weekly schedule like I did the first time around.

[Wwps Graduate in reply to WhaleSongC]

finding great solace in this, thank you!

[MY_RN_Journey]

hi there I have joined the social group for this very reason I was just about to tackle week 7 - been away with work and now have Covid. Body is very tired. Thinking to perhaps circle back to week 4 once I feel better.

Frustrated too as I was in the zone and making progress.