On Saturday evening (the 18th rather than the 15th of March, but let’s not be pedantic) I went to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to see a preview of their new production of Julius Caesar. It was very arty with no swords (they used their hands to stab Caesar) and black ink instead of blood. Brutus and Cassius were gender switched but Antony still said Brutus was ‘an honourable man’ (a good job, in my view, otherwise the lines in the famous speech would have been dreadfully mangled by the addition of an extra syllable). The auditorium was packed as people took advantage of the reduced seat prices and, as is often the case, certain lines of dialogue were lost to spates of coughing from the audience.
The next morning I ran my first ever 10 miles with the lovely TailChaser and had to push myself both mentally and physically to complete it. I spent the afternoon with my feet up and then spent the next 24 hours in transit to our wonderful home in the Dordogne. I was very tired when we boarded the ferry and struggled to eat my tea, and was soon tucked up in my bunk and asleep, thanks to all that wonderful exercise. The 7 hour drive south was extended by the protesters blocking the roads around Rennes, but we made reasonable time and were here before dark. My throat had been irritable during the journey but I was heeding the advice from Dexy5 and drinking plenty of water.
Tuesday morning I was not well, coughing, very irritable throat and feeling very muzzy. I took a day off from cleaning the house. Wednesday I was out of bed and doing housework but still coughing. Thursday I made it to the local market and met a friend for coffee but was still not feeling up to much. Today I was suppose to go running with the local running group. I had hoped I could just meet them and do a gentle trot around the park while they went off to do the 5k, but I’m not up to it and certainly won’t be up to the hilly 8k they have planned for Sunday.
I’m looking at my HM plan and trying to work out how I can get back on track. I don’t know when I will feel able to run again (spirit is willing but the body is weak and wobbly), and there are four days in Marrakesh looking after grandkids and the trip back home in just over a week to factor in. Everyone says ‘listen to your body’ and I am listening, I just don’t like what it is telling me!!!!
I have been trying very hard to keep my body immunity systems high, drinking green gunk for breakfast, eating sensibly, not overdoing the booze and getting plenty of sleep. I’m convinced I picked the virus up at the Theatre and then when my body was stressed by me pushing it to do the 10 miles the virus was able to take a hold. Hubby has it now (and he is dying of course) so it is clearly very infectious, so it may not have taken very much to break down my defences. Patience is not a strong point of mine, but I don’t really have much choice do I? I just have to let it take its course. I have a 10k trail route identified that I might manage next week, and it would be really nice to be able to join my running group next Friday, but today I think I will settle for a gentle walk around the village. That bloomin soothsayer has a lot to answer for!
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Shake-and-run
Half Marathon
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You are quite right of course Shake-and-run. You’ve got to let this virus do its thing and then come back with new energy, having had a bit of a running break. You’ve been running every day and , as you say, your defences may have been low. But do what you can when you can, in between looking after the dying Mr Shakes of course 😂
I hope you are enjoying some sunshine in the Dordogne
I’m so sorry you and Mr Shakes have also succumbed to the conveyor belt virus which has been doing the rounds. We’ve all had enough and just want to get on with our lives don’t we?
I must say, completing 4 races with the one I had in the autumn was daft and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, but I was super sensible when struck down yet again in the middle of February, and this one ended up being worse. Go figure. 🙄
Anyway, I hope your clement weather will send yours packing and you’ll be back on your HM track again. Mine ground to a halt after W1R1 🙄🙄🙄
thanks cheeky, I’ve a few weeks until the planned HM but I’m just worried about the weeks of work I’ve done being all for nothing. Sensible head on , says it will be fine, just be patient!!!
My virus knocked me back 6 or 7 weeks Shake and Run, by which I mean I had run a 15k in the week when the lurgy struck, and it will have taken 6/7 weeks to get back there. Asthma complicated the picture in my case. So, don’t despair, you will be back to HM distance before you know it.👍
thanks Beachcomber. I will just have to wait and see what I can do once I feel better. I’m still full of it after a week so it might be sometime before I can run again.
Grrrr! So annoying ... best laid plans ... and all goes to pot. Or at least it feels like it! If you rest well now, and shake the virus, you may not find yourself as far back as you fear. But first. Get better. Be kind to yourself (and Mr Shakes too, I guess).
It is so frustrating! I think the virus's are just stronger at the moment as so many I know who never usually get ill have been. Rest up now and recover faster. Good luck listening to your body - take things easy!
Oh gosh... I am so sorry that you have joined this massive club that is gathering members with a vengeance.. I am coming to the tail end of a second little visit to the club!
You sound to have had,and be having a very rough time. Mr S too.... he will need very tender care
I am not running at your level but I do know that you will get back to it...just as you are, try to stay sensible, (that word scares me so much, even at my great age! It will pay dividends.
What a glorious location to recover gently in... I so miss the Dordogne..it seems like a very distant memory since we were last there... Enjoy, relax, recover and know, as we are always telling each other; the runs wait. x
thanks Oldfloss. It is beautiful here, but sadly the bikes will not be going out, I won’t be running and even a gentle stroll is hard work. I do have another week so fingers crossed I get better and can get out any enjoy the scenery before we go home.
Slow and steady my friend as ever... this morning I am heading out for a longer run., and it will be very steady. For me, the left overs from Christmas Covid still show themselves occasionally .
Uh oh, the dreaded post long run lurgy. I think you get open to everything when you really push yourself. It’s a shame but you’ll still have most of that fitness when you’re better and you’ll have had a rest. You could always move your HM to the HUHM week? I’m doing it on the 21st May if you’re able to join me? Hope you’re both feeling better very soon xxx
Yum, lovely photo 😋 Makes me quite hungry just looking at it.
These things always seem to happen when we least want them to. But our bodies recover remarkably quickly and when I’m ill or injured I always think of that song, “what a difference a day makes” 🙂 Because each day is another day healing and getting well.
Most HM plans take account of non-run days and if you miss a few runs you’ll still have done enough mileage to prepare you for the distance. As you’ve run the 10 miles you could technically turn up at the start line and run the HM!
I wish you and your husband a speedy recovery. All will be well 💐
thanks IP. I hope you are right. I’m trying not to think about it, wait till I feel better, then just see what I can do. Not sure there is any alternative really 🤣😢
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Further notes from the IC...
Another GSR report!! (Beware very long post)
Last run of the year