Oh no I'm sick

sleighcastle

So, 2 weeks to go until CDA and I'm sick. I have a fever, cough, sore throat, general feeling of yucky. I am skipping my ride today and hydrating, resting, freaking out....etc., etc. etc.

I raced IMSG with a post-illness cough last year and it really wasn't fun but I survived.

 

Anyone else who has been in this sick-right-before-a-race situation want to share words of wisdom or reassurances?!!!

 

Thanks,

Shannon

J.T. Thompson

Shannon - why it's never fun to get sick, look at it as forced tapering.... I've been there before - sick before a race - best thing as you noted is to just rest. At this point, missing some workouts won't make much of a difference - you've got your conditioning and I'm sure you will be fine for the race... Just don't wipe yourself out with a bunch of all night work sessions.... Make sure you get plenty of this...



Look forward to meeting you in Idaho....

sleighcastle

Thanks! There are *only* 2 all-nighters this week. But plan is to slack off royally during the day in order to attempt to get some sleep.

ghernand

i got sick the week of IM France. sucks to be sick when you are in the french riviera.  i still raced well actually, for my abilities at the time.

what you can control or take advantage of during the illness:

weight:  hopefully your appetite is gone with the illness, so you won't gain weight.  if it isn't gone, then don't gain weight.  just drink a ton of fluids.

recovery: get a massage or 2 and stretch when you feel up to it.  sleep more. 

flat vs. ready to race: once you feel up to getting out, get in a few sessions of swim, bike, run to get the cobwebs out.  start with technique focus and then a few intervals of race speed.  on race day, don't worry if you start out not feeling well, just keep plugging away and all the fitness you have developed during this time will shine through after a few hours.  stay on target in other words on race day.  it's been awhile since i read sports med studies, but you are within the window of fitness preservation.  the only thing you are vulnerable to is feeling flat (which gets nullified in a race as long as IM, where your body will have time to get into rhythm; compared to 400m run event where you would be doomed if flat) and psychological defeat.  for the latter, take solace in knowing that your fitness will not disappear during this time and it WILL re-appear on race day at somepoint...and when the sensations return: show no mercy and start kicking ass!!

gh

 

 

Coach Patrick

It's all about the rest right now. Your body is saying it wants to rest...so you gotta give in. No workouts...sleep and rest until the weekend...then maybe a final tune up ride before you start packing...my best races have been after forced downtime!