Please reassure me

[Pickingmyselfup]

I've had such a busy schedule recently that my running has taken a backseat, I've had limited time and pressing jobs to get on with in that limited time so I cut the running right down.

Just as I start to get some time back again I've been hit by a virus, crazy busy days at work and I've just been left exhausted. I haven't run since last Sunday and even that was a bit of a flop, I covered 10K doing a mix of running and walking.

I'm intending to go out tomorrow, don't have a target, I'm just going to see how I feel. Might be able to get out for a bit Christmas Eve and I'm planning on going out Boxing Day for some fresh air and some exercise to run off the Christmas dinner!

My fear is that I haven't covered any real distance since my half marathon in October and the 10 mile in November. Next year I have 2 half marathons and a marathon booked and I'm genuinely worried that I'm back at square one needing to do couch to 5K again. If that happens I'll never be able to do a half marathon in April which is essential because people have sponsored me!

My advice (which is purely personal) would be do little and often over the christmas period- just do some easy 5k's and get yourself back into the routine without worrying about the half. Then start building up once everything gets back to normal in January. I had a terrible virus in October (coughing so hard I couldn't breathe) and didn't run for a month and my lungs felt so weak when I got back into it and kind of papery. I just started doing 5k's at a leisurely pace and now I'm basically back to my usual pace.

A spring half and an autumn marathon? You'll be fine. As the pp said, just keep ticking over for now with short runs of 5 to 10k. Aim to get a couple of decent runs over 10 miles in by end Feb/beginning March. And then start your marathon training in May after the April half and a couple of down weeks.

Fitness and strength aren’t linear. If you’ve run 10k with a mix of walking and running you’ll get back to that. Just do a coupe of easy runs with a mix of running and walking, and maybe run really slowly.

It won’t be your lung/heart capacity that’s the problem, but the risk of injury if you go out too fast. Do take it slowly (look up “jeffing”) and mobilise before and after running.

I was supposed to go for a run today but the weather and my cough have stopped me so I'm having a lazy afternoon. It's not ideal but my running coach has told me to use this week to recuperate so maybe it's necessary. I did my 10 mile the week after an all-inclusive holiday where my running slipped and achieved a PB so if I can do that I can run a half marathon in April 💪

That’s kind of to be expected as you did the 10 miler well rested. Basically any training you do in the fortnight before a race doesn’t benefit that race so if you’re going for a time you’re better off having either a week off or a v light week before a race. Don’t be my idiot friend who decided to run a marathon the weekend before the actual marathon to “check he could definitely do it”. His race marathon was 20 min slower despite being a fast course. Also was pre Strava so no-one knew about the practice marathon 🤣. Personally I benefit from a really hard taper ( 2 weeks before a big marathon) but some people don’t like it and do a few light 5km’s.

Agree with the above focus on recovery if you can’t run start doing squats and lunges whilst the kettle is boiling building strength will really benefit you. Walk too when I was coming back after illness & injury I focused on walking for an hour then trying to do it faster or waking up hills before putting the running back in. Your be fine

So I went and did a short run today, I haven't lost my mojo and I will go out again on Boxing Day and do another run with no targets.

My fitness isn't where it was a few weeks ago but I'm sure between me and my coach we can get me back on track.

Will hit the gym Friday after work and then the schedule will officially start w/c 6th January when the kids are back at school and my work hours return to normal.