Having found my lost mojo over Christmas and defeated a few gremlins on New Year’s Day by getting a PB at Parkrun, I was determined that I would be running regularly throughout January and getting to the gym too.
Well that was before the dreaded lurgy took over...
It all started on the 2nd of January with a slight tickle at the back of my tonsils - well it would have been at my tonsils if I had any, but they parted company from me when I was 19, so can’t be held responsible. By the 3rd I was feeling a bit ‘out of sorts’ but I put that down to having cooked a tapas themed meal for 12 and been forced out of politeness to drink one or two glasses of sparkling wine the previous evening.
By the 4th the tonsil-less tickle was becoming more of a cough, but I wasn’t going to let that put me off. I dosed up on my inhaler, made sure I was hydrated, wrapped up warm and set off to do a leisurely jog. In fact I managed a fairly respectable 10km in 58 minutes, and put a metaphorical two fingers up at whatever gremlin had been trying making such a feeble attempt to stop me running.
Well that was my downfall. I’m guessing it was a “red rag to a bull” moment for the demonic lurgifying gremlin who decided to reward my insouciance with a full blown attack of germ warfare, otherwise known as a chest infection. And oh how I’ve coughed! And if that wasn’t enough, I was then plagued with hot sweats (worse than my usual woman of a certain age flushes) interspersed with chills, and the icing on the cake was the flu like aching to the very marrow of my bones.
By the time the weekend arrived I was a shivering mass of snot with the voice of a bullfrog, unable to do very much except lie in bed and feel sorry for myself. Oh and did I mention I was coughing? My asthma failed to behave itself so on top of all that I felt as if I had an elephant sitting on my chest.
The GP helpfully said it was viral but gave me steroids for the asthma and told me to take it easy and get some sleep. Easy for her to say, she didn’t have to listen to my barking every couple of minutes. Now I was giving myself a constant headache, and all thoughts of running were long gone. After a few days I attempted a visit to the gym: short workout as any cardio reduced me to a wheezing, chocking wreck.
After another week I’d had enough. There was no improvement and now my one working ear was playing up. I was pretty much functionally deaf and my balance was getting worse, so I went back to the GP yesterday. There’s no way I could risk loosing the hearing in my good ear, having lost it in the right ear because of a virus or infection a few years ago. It was a locum, which meant explaining everything again and including my worries about my hearing.
What a top man... more steroids, and a course of antibiotics just to be on the safe side. Well I started taking them at lunch time yesterday. When I woke this morning I realised I’d slept all night without waking to cough. Even Mr Razouski commented that I seem a lot better today -coughing less rasping and less frequent. This afternoon I decided to do a gentle work out at the gym.
And for some strange reason I was drawn to the treadmill. Had the last two weeks’ cocktail of cough medicines, steroids, paracetamol, ibuprofen and antibiotics addled my brain? I normally eschew the treadmill. Why would I go near it? But I did... and set myself the target of running for 10 minutes. Just a little Irishprincess style jogette. And despite the difficulties breathing and increased coughing I did it! I actually ran for 10 whole minutes on the treadmill. It was only 1.9 km but I didn’t die of boredom, or selfcombust. And even managed to get my breath back afterwards and complete the rest of my workout.
So now I’m doubly determined to get rid of this chest infection and get running outside again soon.
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Razouski
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Oh poor you Razouski, what a dismal January you are having. I do hope you are feeling better soon and outside running again. It seems that colds are going to the chest this season. Fingers crossed 🤞 touch wood etc we have managed to avoid it so far. 🤧🤐
Oh wow Razouski, that sounded horrific, and after such a great time for your 10k too. At least the lurgy had the courtesy to wait until you’d completed that.
Glad you’re feeling better, and that 10 minutes must have felt fantastic. Razouski on the way back. Good for you and here’s to your full recovery very soon. 💪😀🏃♀️
Yes they seem to be doing the trick, I just wish I’d had them sooner because as well as no running I can’t sing a note and have missed 3 important gigs this weekend so doubly fed up.
January has been a tough one for you but hopefully you're on the mend now. A lovely little jogette on the treadmill sounds perfect to ease you back into it.
Thanks Decker. I’m dosing up on zinc and echinacea too in an attempt to fortify my immune system, and plenty of satsumas for vitamin C. Hopefully that will help.
Oh bless. There are so many bugs going round. So good to hear you are in the mend. My house has the lurgy too and have had poorly boys. Think I have avoided it but throat a little like sandpaper this morning. Hope you feel even better today and that time is awesome on a treadmill for 10 minutes. ⭐️🏃🏼♀️👍.
Glad you're feeling a bit better. Though I'm still surprised you even managed 10 minutes given what you've been through! Modern medicine is a godsend. I once dedicated my first run back after a virus to Alexander Fleming 😷🙂
Ah I feel for you, I have been wheezing, coughing and hacking away for 2 weeks and I rattle when I walk from all the tablets. Hopefully like me you are on the mend and always remember spring is on the way !!
Yes, I'm hoping I'm on the mend. The coughing is definitely abating, but I still need to get my voice back as my other big passion is singing and I'm supposed to be singing in Amsterdam with our choir in few weeks.
That's quite a start to the year! Sorry you've been so unwell but glad it seems you're on the mend. I hate having to take steroids - hope they didn't give you horrible side effects (even after you've stopped them).
Take care & good luck getting your running back on track.🙂
What a dreadful time you've had, Raz But hey, 10 minutes on the dreadmill? Go you! Very well done! It's great that they include mind-altering drugs in steroids and antibiotics nowadays 😂😂😂 Seriously, though, take it easy, and all the best in getting back out there x
🙃 yes the drugs do seem to have some weird effects. I'm hoping to get another josette under my belt at the gym when I visit my Dad tomorrow, then who knows? Maybe I'll be back outside in time for my trip to Suffolk on Wednesday.
Yes, I have bookmarked the article she mentioned and will do my best to follow the recommendations.
You poor thing, but blooming well done on hitting the ‘mill. I do hope you feel better soon and that the snot and virus monster now leaves you well alone...
Hope you’re good for Suffolk and PCT on Thursday?? In fact big news, there’s a shop devoted to selling PCT’s in Soho....
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But hey, 10 minutes on the dreadmill? Go you! Very well done! It's great that they include mind-altering drugs in steroids and antibiotics nowadays 😂😂😂 Seriously, though, take it easy, and all the best in getting back out there x
Went off plan and ran 10km!
Saturday 50 minute run 🥶
A few tentative minutes
45 minutes in the treadmill
