Hey everyone, I'm training for my first half in September and my first marathon in April. Last week I managed to pick up a chest infection. I felt it coming the weekend before and had 2 really crappy runs but blamed it on the heat. I had a whole week of rest. I managed a 7k at the weekend at a very slow pace, not what I'm used to! I still had to walk a few times which I haven't done in months . I tried to do 5 miles today at normal pace and had to give up at 6k my breathing was terrible and my chest was painful and i still had to walk a few times. I feel fine in myself so I don't understand what's happening to my body! I had antibiotics from the docs which i have finished. I feel like I'm back to square one . I'm wondering what I should do next, go back to the doctors? Run through it and build up my endurance? Or rest more? The rest was driving me crazy and I'm panicking so much that I'm going to destroy all my running progress. I ran my first 9 miles the week before I came down with it and felt so accomplished now I feel I'm going backwards . Any help really appreciated! Jess
Comments
The last thing you should do is to try to run through a chest infection! Go back to your GP a.s.a.p. It's frustrating but all runners have had to cut back at some point due to illness, injury or life in general. Once fully recovered you should get back to your 9 mile point more quickly than it took you to get there from zero.
Thank you so much! I went back to my GP today she said the infection has gone but my lungs were inflamed so was prescribed an inhaler to take. She didn't advise me on a rest period though. How much rest would you recommend? I was planning on running again the weekend but not sure.
Why didn't you ask the doctor ?
Didn't think til I got home!