Post covid recovery - is it mainly in the mind??

[Hedgehogs123]

So finally kicked covid out of here or so I thought. Had the horrible cough, sore throat, relentless headache and sickness ( which I didn't realise was a symptom) and of course the tiredness.

Didn't think it had affected my breathing, although have been so tired so I guess I should have done. Tried a few gentle runs and did my normal Parkrun on Sat. Wheezed all the way round and was 3.5mins slower but I did it. I haven't attempted a longer run as yet,and just wondered what anyone elses experience has been and how long it took you to fully recover. I normally do a 10 or 11km on a weekend but knew I wouldn't be able to do that. Want to work my way back up to be able to do a 10 mile run, but right now, that seems a long way off , or is it?? I'm listening to my body and not pushing it but I do wonder also if it's mindset, and whether I also need to tell myself I can do it . Was quite frustrated at my slow Parkrun time but knew it would be tough.

How have you approached your training if recovering from covid??

[RunWillie Marathon]

Hi Hedgehogs123

I’m 3 weeks post Covid today. I ran a few 5ks to test the water after a 10 day break and now I’m following this that I found online. (Can’t remember where)

“This progression is appropriate for runners who have taken up to 2 weeks off. Bear in mind, the progression assumes you are feeling good and have no symptoms.

In your first week back, reduce your normal training load by 50 percent.

In the second week, you can increase mileage up to 70 percent of your previous volume.

If still feeling good, in the third week, you can resume 80 percent of your weekly volume.

Then, in week four, resume up to 90 percent of your previous volume.

In the fifth week, you can resume 100 percent of your previous running volume”

Hope that helps 😍

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thank you, that does help, just got to be patient I guess and hopefully I will be. Just so frustrating as I was doing really well.

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I feel exactly the same Hedgehogs123

I was running 50k weeks consistently and feeling really strong. We will be back 💪🏻

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Hope so and in the near future!!🤞

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Everybody is different but what i do know is it’s a nasty virus that hangs around, don’t rush it just do what you can and feel comfortable doing and it will increase in time and pace, don’t push yourself My daughter suddenly said about a month after having Covid that she suddenly felt like herself again and only realised she’d been struggling with low energy when she got it back

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks, good advice. I know patience is the key, not something I have a lot of! My other half is still bad. He doesn't run and never has which at the moment isn't a bad thing as all he is doing is sleeping. Not eating and is struggling retaining information which I think they call' brain fog'. Must admit I'm slightly worried about him. I'm now testing negative but he is still positive. Hopefully it will clear soon. Must admit I never realised how horrible it is, and it has made me really wary of getting it again!

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Yes it’s really nasty my daughter had it twice and although she said it was fairly mild she felt quite unwell for a couple of weeks then not really well for at least a couple more. I had what was possibly covid right at the beginning and was in hospital on oxygen and that took at least a month before i felt well, 2 weeks after i was ill i went for a short run to see what would happen, and my pace went from 8 something to what’s in the picture it was a long time before i got anywhere near 8 again

Stats

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Horrible virus, I'm definitely wearing a mask again if I go to any other large indoor gatherings !

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Good idea, i’m still wearing masks at work and in shops

[CBDB]

I don’t have stats from running, but from indoor rowing it took me 2 months to be fully back where I was before.

I mean, I felt pretty happy 2 weeks after testing negative. And I took it slow working my way up to the same intensity and duration of pre-Covid rows, but stats did show that I was affected for another 6 weeks after that, even if I didn’t notice.

So ca only 8 weeks from the point of testing negative, I finally hit stats pretty much same to before Covid.

This did test my patience, I have to admit.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to CBDB]

Yep, and patience will never be my biggest asset!!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I’m still isolating as I’m still positive so will read the replies here with interest. I intend to take it very gently with my return to running and err on the side of caution.

It’s interesting to see you had sickness as one of your symptoms, I did too and it’s been horrible ☹️

Anyway, good news, it sounds as if you're over the worst of yours 🙂 and we’ll both be running our little legs to the ground before we know it 🤗

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Hope so! The sickness was something I just didn't expect at all. I wasn't actually sick just felt nauseous all the time. The headache was absolutely relentless, I had it for 10 days solid. I'm definitely on the other side now and feeling much better, but yep, it's horrible isn't isn't it. I have to say I wasn't worried about catching it before, now I'm paranoid!My other half is really ill, but with different side effects. He has lost so much weight because he can't eat as he has a horrible taste everytime he tries. Hope you feel better soon. 🤞

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I was a bit paranoid about it before and was so careful so I have no idea how I got it.

Your poor other half. Hope he feels better soon 🤞

[Birdlady64]

3 weeks post covid myself. After successfully avoiding it for all this time Mr B and I finally succumbed whilst the trip of a lifetime to Western Canada. I didn't have the nausea but sore throat, headache, catarrh, cough and fatigue. I never felt like my breathing was affected but I still have the cough and catarrh. I count myself lucky as I think it was pretty mild but really don't feel anywhere back to where I was pre-covid.

It's certainly a funny virus

Be kind to yourself and don't talk yourself into doing too much too soon.

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to Birdlady64]

Oh yes I remember your post about that. That was such bad timing for you, but I remember you still saw some wild orcas which I so want to witness !Yes it's certainly a horrible virus and wouldn't like to have to go through it again. My other half is day 10, and is still ill, terrible cough, not eating as no appetite and still a strong positive test. I've been testing positive for 4 days now and feel much better just still having problems breathing when I run. Going out with the community running group tonight buts always a nice steady run so should be ok with that.