No Category selected Major Setback…Ottawa Race Weekend Is A No-Go

    Major Setback…Ottawa Race Weekend Is A No-Go

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    VICKY:
    Well, I am not pleased to report that I have suffered a minor setback in my training:  the flu or something like it.  I was sick and bedridden for exactly 8 days.  I felt like I ran a marathon.

    GRANT:
    But you’ve never run a marathon.

    VICKY:
    Yes, I know that but this is what I imagine it would feel like after running a marathon.  Alright fine, I felt like I was hit by a truck.  My whole body was aching, I was feverish, fatigued and my throat felt like I swallowed a scour pad.  Plus, I was coughing up a lung like a smoker (which I am not!).  Obviously the doctor asked if I had been to Mexico or in contact with anyone from Mexico.  I looked at him and pointed to my pale white skin and said: “Really?  Mexico?  Do you really think I look like someone who came back from Mexico?”  He acknowledged quickly I had no tan whatsoever and quickly swabbed my throat.  I know, I know, it’s not the doctor’s fault but I was really miserable and he had to ask a question that I thought the answer to be obvious.  He lightened the mood when he said not to cough in anyone’s face except if it was someone I didn’t like.  He was kidding of course but I did think about it for a moment…hmm… who could I “infect” if I had the opportunity…KIDDING!!  People, I am kidding!

    GRANT:
    Good Lord woman!

    VICKY:
    So I started to wonder whether running could have anything to do with all of this.  I am no doctor but don’t we all try and self diagnose ourselves while waiting for lab tests?

    GRANT:
    Actually, I just wait patiently for my lab results.  You’re just impatient Vickster.  Kidding.  Seriously thought, I’ve heard of athletes who overtrain and actually become vulnerable to disease because of it.

    VICKY:
    Exactly!  I looked it up and it seems that overtraining could have played a role in increasing my susceptibility to infection.  As you know, I ran two 5K races one week apart.  I remember I was feeling fatigued for several days following each of the races.

    GRANT:
    That makes sense because when I was training to run a marathon, I read about post-marathon side effects.  One of them is that your immunity is decreased for up to 72 hours after running a marathon.

    VICKY:
    Before this happened, I didn’t know that too much training/running could make me vulnerable.  This only reinforces my belief that I need a coach!  Of course this is crazy talk for now because I can’t afford a coach but anyhow, it would have been helpful to have someone guide me through my training and talk to me along the way about the signs of overtraining. 

    GRANT:
    But surely you’ll be ok to run this weekend at Ottawa Race Weekend.

    VICKY:
    Sadly, I have decided to NOT run the 5K this weekend.  I feel awful but at the same time, I can’t push it.  I have to listen to my body otherwise I might injure myself or suffer other health-related set backs.  Now I have to figure out how to get my refund!  Argh! 

    GRANT:
    This is the part where I say “I told you so”. 

    VICKY:
    Believe me, I won’t be repeating the same error next year.  Not only will I continue to work on pacing myself while I run but now I have to work on how to pick my races so they are far enough apart to allow me to have a sufficient recovery period.  Hope this was helpful for some of you out there!

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    Self-described “running nerds,” Vicky and Grant are co-workers who “spend their lunch hours at the nearest bookstore and will often be seen around the office getting excited about a new energy bar or running gadget.” The duo captured our attention with their unique (double) take on Running Blog Idol, pledging to address a host of different topics including Canadian running heroes. Their submission to our contest even included a sample vlog (available at youtube.com/watch?v=oy4oDokN1Qo), which they promise is “but only a mere example of the lengths we are willing to go in order to share our experience, knowledge, research and general ramblings.” Holy multimedia, Batman!