Running Sick

This being my very first post, to my very first blog... ever... I didn't plan on it being about running, especially while sick. I'm not sure what I will make this all about or the best way to start, but I am not sure there is maybe no better way to start than just getting right in.

Two days ago I ran in a 5K race. It was my fourth one in as many months. I coach a high school cross country team and love running myself, but I have upped my game as of late. Tips on how to prepare for a race when sick is at the bottom of the post. Feel free to skip the preamble if needed.

 To be more precise about why I changed my training, I felt like my lifestyle at the end of the last school year was way too unhealthy. I wasn't taking care of myself like I should have been: eating like crap, drinking way too much, not exercising, etc. I wasn't leading the life I preach to my athletes, let alone one that is healthy for any human.

In May, my wife and I had finally gotten the good news that she was pregnant (the months before this are a whole different set of stories). It was very stressful there for several months leading up to that, and a little bit more after. It was amazing news, but the stress leading up to that wonderful moment had caused a lot of anxiety on my part. I began questioning what was wrong with me and why it might be my fault that we couldn't create a baby. This lead to dealing with stress by eating badly, drinking more than my fair share of beer, and, finally, developing some form of hypochondria. I had never experienced that before, but it consumed my life for a few months. (Again, that might need to be discussed another time). The hypochondria was there when I got a really bad cold. My stress about it caused all sort of other symptoms and problems. My sickness lasted weeks. I thought I had cancer, liver damage, gall bladder failure, IBS, tumors, heart murmurs, etc. You name it, I thought I had it and was dying.

I made major changes to my lifestyle. I began running much more seriously in late May. I signed up for a race in June. I began eating better and drinking way less. I'm not even sure, now, how I snowballed to such a bad place. It just happened. I had let it happen.

Skipping a few months ahead of progressively training more, eating better, and have only a few beers a week,  I was on track to reach my new goal. I really wanted to run under 19:00 for the 5K. This 5K was even more special as it took place before a major cross country meet and my athletes would see me race for the first time, ever. I really wanted to do well. I trained my ass off for this race following my own training plan. Lots of long lonely miles on hilly roads, faster and faster 400's on the track, and very early morning weight lifting sessions.

The Thursday before the meet, which was last Saturday, I woke up with a sore throat and some stuffy sinuses. My first thought was allergies. Then I saw how many other kids and staff members were getting sick, too. I had/still have a damn cold. It hit hard Friday and I was not only unsure I would be able to race, but the hypochondria began to seep in again. Was my immune system still so compromised? Was I fooling myself that I was better? Am i just dying? Shit!

But, because of my changes and hard work, I was able to convince myself that I was fine and that I wasn't the only one sick. I was able to put aside the hypochondria bullshit, and concentrate on running, which felt awful. My easy 2 mile run with strides felt terrible; light headed, weak, slow, and other adjectives one shouldn't use when describing your exercise for the day. But, I couldn't let my team down. They wanted to see me run and I felt I had work way too hard for this. I came up with a plan.

I had about 15 hours to prepare for this race. I was grumpy about it, but I went for it anyways. I got a bunch or Ester-C packets, some regular Alka-Seltzer, Gatorade, a Kale Blazer Naked Juice, and started drinking lots of water. I forgot to mention I also woke up Friday with a horrific knot in my neck... the kind where you can't turn your head. That was yet another factor to deal with.

First, I took some of the meds so I could breath. Breathing is good. Then I sucked down a packet of the Ester-C. Then I drank a berry and spinach smoothie I had in the fridge left over from breakfast. Then I drank some water with Super Greens powder mix in it. Once my bladder and body was full of way too many vitamins, I began stretching and rolling the knot in my shoulder blade and neck with a foam roller and tennis ball. It hurt like hell. I hate the foam roller. We had left over Italian Beef sandwiches for dinner, but I didn't taste them. Nor was I concerned with what I ate that night. It would be amazing if I was able to run at all Saturday, let alone well.

Meanwhile, my wife is watching all this rolling her eyes and pretty pissed. Apparently I always get sick on long weekends when we can actually spend time together. I don't know if this is true, but maybe it is. I felt attacked for being sick and wondered again if it was because I was dying and it really is my fault. She thought I was being a big baby and wanted to go shopping for maternity clothes. To avoid conflict and be a good husband, I sucked it up and said yes. I was still downing water and vitamin C while my wife made faces at me.

It turns out she had completely forgotten that I was racing the very next morning and thought all my preparations were totally stupid. She thought I had another week. When I left the morning of the race she didn't say good luck or anything like that. She later felt bad for giving me such a hard time when she figured it out. I guess I couldn't blame her if she had forgotten I was racing. My actions definitely would have seemed silly otherwise.

Back to race prep. When we got home from finding some baby bump clothing, I started making preparations for the morning, packing my bag full of different vitamins and liquids and potions that might allow me to run. I went to bed at 9:30. I woke up at 4 to begin getting ready.

I drank some protein and super green mix and had a slew of vitamins. I then drank down a berry smoothie I made the night before. I also sucked down a vitamin C packet. I took one Alka-Seltzer tablet to help with breathing then ate some Mini-Wheats for some actual solids. The race was at 7:30 am, so I was trying to time it all correctly. On the way to the meet and drank some coffee, but not a lot. Just a little caffeine as this is my normal routine and I did not want too much deviation. I also had some Gatorade.

At the meet I started my warm up as usual. I felt okay. After about 10 minutes of jogging, I still felt alright. So far, so good. I hit the Portos... I timed that well, too. All was going to plan. 20 minutes before the race, before I did some warm up skips, I had a little more of the C and took some B-Complex Vitamins for energy. By the time the gun went off, I felt pretty damn good.

Skipping race details, I finished 7th overall in a pretty competitive race. I ran a 19:50, but felt pretty good about it considering. I ran my ass off and placed well. My team cheered me on and made me feel like the whole thing was worth it. I got over my hypochondria, I got past my cold, and even ran a decent race.

Today is Monday. I feel pretty shitty today. I can stop coughing and snot will not stop leaving my body. It sucks. But, on Saturday, for 19 minutes and 50 seconds, I felt pretty good.