Awful cough, due to race 10k Sunday. Should I?

[Pendulum]

I've had a bad cold and now have a hacking, double you up kind of cough. Not run for a week now (usually do 25-30 miles in 4 x run pw)

I'm supposed to race on Sunday and got my race pack today. I wouldn't be able to do it today, but I'm wondering whether it would be ok to race while recovering, and not having trained for a week and a half.

I've never raced while not in tip top health before, so would be glad of advice- should I give it a go even if not feeling 100%? Should I try a training session between now and Sunday to see how things go, or should I focus on resting and recovering? Is there any point in racing with no hope of a PB ?

NO - rest and recover there is always another race
(ps have just relinquished UK athletics coaching licence,after many years of coaching) and would never recommend any athlete to race when not fit - especially colds and particularly chest infecions

Thanks mollymole. Can I pick your brain (you sound very well qualified)!

Would you have advised your students to try some gentle jogging while still suffering with the cold, cough etc, or do you think a complete rest is necessary? I'm struggling with the thought of no running at all for 10 days, and my legs/ hips are aching from the lack of it- but still have raised glands, sore throat and general knackeredness.

I heard a radio interview with Ron Hill the other day who has apparently not missed a day's training in 30 years. Once he was in a car crash and broke a bone (think it was his clavicle). He discharged himself from hospital, told his wife he was going to shuffle to the paper shop, went around the corner and ran a mile. He is obviously mad, but it still makes me feel a bit of a wuss!

i would not recommend any running whilst still having raised glands, sore throat, why don't you try some gentle swimming,
as you probably know the first symptons of overtraining can be sore throats, and raised glands and general knackeredness could you be having a combination of a heavy chest infection and a touch of overtraining syndrome, after a couple of swimming sessions - with a days rest in between see how you feel
each person is an individual when it comes to training programmes so go with how you are
not with what someone else did/does