Half Marathon in two weeks, just tested positive for Covid

[Leons]

I should be running half marathon two weeks today. I ran 11 miles on Friday, felt ok but since yesterday suddenly felt dreadful and my test today is positive. I’m gutted. I had planned one last long run before the day. If I recover quickly and say get negative tests by end of week, what training should I do in my final week? Is it still doable. Time does not bother me, I just want to get round.

You will be absolutely fine, don’t worry.
It is more important to rest up than get that final long run in.
If you do nothing at all before then you will be absolutely fine anyway, but if you can do a short run just to wake up your legs the final week that will help your head too

Good luck and enjoy.

You'll be fine.

It's normal to taper for a couple of weeks before a long race, and that's also the time when it matters least if injury or illness means you miss some planned runs.

A long run of 11 miles 2 weeks out from your half is fine, and as performance on the day is better if you taper, then its better that you dont do another long run even if fighting fit!

When you feel well enough to run again (don't try if you're feeling breathless) then try a gentle 5k. If that goes ok, have a rest day, and do 4 or 5 miles with some medium intervals or hills. Rest day, then 5k easy. Strength and flexibility training can continue (try 30-45 mins of Pilates 2-3 times a week)

You'll be fine!!!!

Agree, should be fine, depending on how well you’re feeling you could do some cardio at home, eg online class, to keep ticking over.

I'd be very careful. I had very mild covid (snotty nose, slight cough, no temperature) and did a fun easy fencing competition on day 14. I struggled with the physical side of things. I stayed active during Covid, did some light workouts but could barely run a mile on day 11.

First week of running was so tough and my HR was way higher than normal for a given pace. Back to normal around 4 weeks after the positive test (coped with a hilly 12.5k race)

Definitely listen to your body and don't push yourself if you're still struggling. I really struggled the day after my fencing competition and they're much less strenuous than a half marathon (have done both, got one lurking in May...)

I managed to do a gentle 5k parkrun on my first day of post-Covid freedom at new year.

Take it easy. Rest will be most important. A few days before test the ground with some gently-paced runs. Take the HM gently, aim to complete rather than pb. If you are struggling with the cough that seems to be going round, there's no shame in a DNS if necessary.

You should be tapering before the race anyway, so rest. Training in the final week would be utterly futile, and would just mean you arrive at the start line already knackered.

Also, long Covid has apparently been linked to people trying to push themselves too soon after recovering from Covid. So don't push yourself.

I’ve been positive for 9 days now there is no way on earth I could even manage a yoga class. I have very bad sinusitis, horrendous headaches and brain fog. On day 2 I felt fine. I am still getting bright positive tests now. No-one can guess what will happen OP you just need to wait and see.

Thank you all for your comments. I think it is just wait and see. I will be gutted if I can’t do this one. I’m not a regular runner, I started couch to 5k a year ago and was content doing 5-10k. However my sister asked me to do this with her for her daughter who died of cancer and I have raised nearly £2k for Teenage Cancer Trust. I found the training hard but with the end in sight I was looking forward to it. I will just have to see how it goes. Thanks all again.

Sorry to hear that about your relative.

That’s great fundraising! If you’re not well enough to go ahead, there’re loads of UK half marathons, obviously not the same as doing the one you’ve planned with your sister, but you could still complete a different one for the fundraising etc.

Did you do it O/P?