God damn flu

Drop out. You'll only make yourself sicker.

David Hallsworth said:

Hi all.

I am supposed to be running my first 10k on Sunday, but for the last 2 days I've been pretty much
bed-bound with flu. Now everything aches, I'm short of breath with a hacking cough and my training
has been completely whacked out.

What do you reckon I should do? If I run the race, I might completely bomb out, which would be very
disheartening. I'm not a sore looser, but I would rather abstain than do badly. On the other hand,
I could say 'to hell with it' and wait till November 30th, when I've got a place in another race.

It's so frustrating, because I've trained hard and really want to race, but on the other hand, if I
pull out I can rest, train a further 6 weeks and (hopefully) kick ass in the November 10k.

Anyone else have experience with illness before an event?

Best wishes to all, Dave

David Hallsworth said:

Anyone else have experience with illness before an event?

I've walked 30 miles with the flu, before taking up running, and have also run with the flu on
several occasions. The only thing that's going to happen is that you'll be going a bit slower than
usual, though I did a 6:16 mile at the onset of the flu. I dropped out of a half marathon later the
same week, 3 miles into the race, because the pace was getting too slow, but walked 3 miles back and
ran 4 more miles later on that day in the gym, all without ill effect.

"David Hallsworth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi all.

I am supposed to be running my first 10k on Sunday, but for the last 2 days I've been pretty much
bed-bound with flu. Now everything aches, I'm short of breath with a hacking cough and my training
has been completely whacked out.

What do you reckon I should do? If I run the race, I might completely bomb out, which would be
very disheartening. I'm not a sore looser, but I would rather abstain than do badly. On the
other hand, I could say 'to hell with it' and wait till November 30th, when I've got a place in
another race.

It's so frustrating, because I've trained hard and really want to race, but on the other hand, if
I pull out I can rest, train a further 6 weeks and (hopefully) kick ass in the November 10k.

Anyone else have experience with illness before an event?

Best wishes to all, Dave

If it's as bad as you say - really 'flu, not "office 'flu" which is just a cold for shirkers - then
you would be a fool to run. A rule of thumb that I observe is that if it is mainly above the neck
(i.e. blocked nose, sneezing etc.) then run if you really must (if you are a counting member of a
team, for example) but you are unlikely to do yourself justice. If it is below the neck (coughing,
tightness in chest etc.) then don't run at all. As you say, you have a chance to race again in a
little over a month. Not too long to wait.

Edward
--
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Alfred Einstead said:

David Hallsworth said:

Anyone else have experience with illness before an event?

I've walked 30 miles with the flu, before taking up running, and have also run with the flu on
several occasions. The only thing that's going to happen is that you'll be going a bit slower than
usual, though I did a 6:16 mile at the onset of the flu. I dropped out of a half marathon later
the same week, 3 miles into the race, because the pace was getting too slow, but walked 3 miles
back and ran 4 more miles later on that day in the gym, all without ill effect.

Have fun with that!

I say bag it and do the later race and enjoy it.

Scott

"David Hallsworth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It's so frustrating, because I've trained hard and really want to race, but on the other hand, if
I pull out I can rest, train a further 6 weeks and (hopefully) kick ass in the November 10k.

There's your answer right there.

Quoted message said:

Anyone else have experience with illness before an event?

You shouldn't run if you have a temperature. And if you are feeling achey then running 10k (if you
can get that far) will make it worse.

After 20 years of racing I can tell you that there are *always* other races.

Andy

Quoted message said:

Best wishes to all, Dave

People have been known to commit suicide for lesser things. One guy killed himself because he got a
scratch on his Ferrari, I say just end it all.

(TheRacker) said:

People have been known to commit suicide for lesser things. One guy killed himself because he got a
scratch on his Ferrari, I say just end it all.

I agree, just listening to this whining wants me want to kill myself too!

Praise God for the days I have felt good and for the days I have not felt good.

Cheers all for the replies.

It seems pretty unanimous that I shouldn't race, which stops me from feeling like such a wimp!

Apparently something like 3million people in the UK have got this virus, and my sympathy is with all
of them - I used to think that flu was just an excuse made by people to get off work, but having had
it for the first time, I can understand why it killed half the worlds population in the dark ages.

Best, Dave

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To email, remove SPAM.com and replace with wadham DOT oxford DOT ac DOT uk

"David Hallsworth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Cheers all for the replies.

It seems pretty unanimous that I shouldn't race, which stops me from feeling like such a wimp!

Apparently something like 3million people in the UK have got this virus, and my sympathy is with
all of them - I used to think that flu was just an excuse made by people to get off work, but
having had it for the first time, I can understand why it killed half the worlds population in the
dark ages.

Best, Dave

And up to 40 million worldwide in the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. But you probably don't have flu.
If you had flu, the last thing you would be doing is considering a race.

Edward
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