Last Thursday afternoon I received my first Flu shot ever. Apparently it's required since I'm a future parent. Last Friday I started to feel off my game. Last Saturday my body was just tired and sore and my 10 mile trail run extremely sluggish. By Saturday night I had a full on cold. Monday and Tuesday I left work early. Wednesday I didn't even bother going in.
Yet through all this I tried to run. The miles were slow and painful. On Monday for example, I made it 5 blocks away from the house when I made every effort to cough up my lungs. Instead of going back home, I finished my sloppy lap around Wash Park. Wednesdays climb of Green Mt in Boulder consisted of breathing thru a plugged nose and constant clearing of the throat. Yet I painfully forged on.
You see, when I get sick, I know the best thing for me to do is simply lay down to relax and catch up on some sleep. But my attention span is short. I sit around for an hour and I get bored. I get this build up of energy (mind you very little energy) and feel the need to release it right away. A walk around the block with the dog would be suffice but in my mind, that's not good enough. So on goes the running gear, the wife shaking her head in disagreement with my plan, yet I proceed on.
Every run during this span has ended with me wondering "what the hell was I thinking!" as I hit stop on my Garmin. In all my years of running while sick, rarely have I felt better afterwards. Yet I continue with this foolish pattern.
Part of me is writing this in hopes that one day I'll be smart enough to not run while I'm sick. Maybe I'll read this the next time I'm sick as a reminder that running while under the weather can be pretty unproductive.
But seriously, who am I kidding. I've proven my stubbornness for years now and I won't be change my mindset. As far as I'm concerned, if I'm sick, I should run. Not because it's going to heal me quicker, but because it's the only way I know how to deal with my hatred of being sick.
19:29!
1 day ago
I've gotten the flu shot every year recently, simply to increase my chances of remaining well. It's only $25.
ReplyDeleteEven so, last month I had the exact same experience with sickness and running (it was before I got the shot). I ran the first two days, thinking it would be fine, and I regret it. I bet I could have shaved a few days off the cold if I'd just bitten the bullet, stayed home, and gotten lots of rest. It's difficult to do!
Right there with you. I actually rationalize the whole thing by thinking running WILL help. If it is a cold, it might. Flu or fever - ack.
ReplyDeleteyou mean running doesnt help you get better quicker. Damn there goes my whole dealing with being sick approach
ReplyDeleteWe need to run again. Long run Saturday if you're bored, 31 (with options to cut it shorter if you please) on the North Fork 50 course in Pine. Or let me know when you cruise the park in the morning and maybe I'll wake up for that one of these days:)
ReplyDelete