Week 5 run 3 delayed due to a cold!

[Bluepiano]

Hello everyone, I was supposed to do the dreaded week 5 r3 yesterday but was feeling ill, and had a long day at work so was going to delay until tonight, but tonight I feel worse! Last time I started running and got a cold I stopped for a week because I could not breathe then just never started again. I am determined that is not going to happen this time, but if I take a few days off do you think I should just plough on and do W5 R3 or go back to W5 R2 or even 1? Don't really want to go back but also I don't want to try it and fail.

[greenlegs Graduate]

Good idea to post, to help you to remember to get back again once you feel better! I think you're supposed to more or less keep the same level of fitness over a week's break - but it depends whether you're fully recovered when you do your next run, or whether you're still struggling a bit. Probably best to just try it and see, when you feel ready? And if it's too much, just give it a few more days, but don't beat yourself up about it.

[Genome911 Graduate]

I agree with greenlegs. Try and see what the impact of being ill has had on you and go for the next session, but back off if it's not working and try again the next day or day after. I'm not sure it's possible to know how you will react until you give it a go. That said, it is not smart to run while still ill for many reasons.

[Fingalo Graduate]

Agree with both of the above.

To address your concern about failing, I actually feel my failure in the first run of Week four helped me with the rest of the programme as I no longer feared giving up. The fact that I haven't since is immaterial, I was just no longer hamstrung by the thought of it.

[Bluepiano Graduate]

Thanks for your advice, I am looking forward to run 3 whilst dreading it at the same time! I may well try again tonight. I was all ready to go last night on the way home from work, but by the time I got home and put my son to bed all I wanted to do was go to bed myself. Hopefully will feel better tonight.

[CouchtoKiltLegs Graduate]

Oddly enough I experienced this same scenario. W5R2 went well enough for me and I was worried and excited at the prospect of W5R3. I woke up with the dreaded cold on the morning of the 20 min run and after posting a question here for advice on running with a cold decided not to run. I ended up missing 2 runs as my cold lingered for about 6 days. I was very worried that I would quit.

What worked for me was to to go back and do W5R2 again just to be sure I was in the same place. I ran it still with the cold and it was tough but I managed. I then managed W5R3 a week later than I was meant to (yesterday).By taking the time out and easing back into it I think that helped me manage it. That is my experience anyway. We managed to get this far so a wee cold virus isn't going to stop us!

[Bluepiano Graduate]

I think they were the lines I was thinking along Kilt legs, weird that the exact same thing happened to you. Maybe the week 5 run 2 podcast carries a cold virus that is injected straight into the ear :0)

[Lynds Graduate]

runnersworld.com/health/sho...

Interestingly runners world (my new bible) suggest you should run with a head cold...

[Bluepiano Graduate]

Okay thanks to everyone for there advice. Here goes..........

[Bluepiano Graduate]

Yey, I made it. Not too hard until about the last 3 mins. Covered in snot and sweating like a pig, must have looked a right horror. But am proud of myself for doing it. Now I feel like a runner.