What did you do?

[Texas84]

Easy 3 miles with some hill work this morning. Humidity coming back but still not terrible.

No more points series runs until Labor Day.

 

[Swissmiss]

I'm fairly new to running and have been following a 20 week couch to half marathon training program to prepare for the DLP half in September. I should (as I write this) be out on my week 5 distance run for this but instead am down for the count with some flu-like illness. How do I reintegrate my training program next week when I am healthy enough to start running again? The program has me doing 2 timed runs twice a week and a distance run on Saturday. Today I should have done my third week of a 4 mile run and then the next two weekends I am scheduled for a 5 mile run. In terms of giving my body time to recuperate from being sick and from not running for several days, is it better to have "skipped" the 4 mile run or one of the 5 mile runs (or should I split the difference and next week do 4.5 miles?)

Thanks in advance from a newbie runner for your collective wisdom and experience!

 

[surfsupdon]

I had my first MM (magic mile) within a 4 mile run. So one mile is actual race pace. My MM time was 6:12 and I ran that as mile 3 of my 4. Like I've said this is my first time following a schedule and training, and I like it!

Today is a rest day. So no running. But I will lift and surf.

 

[BrianV]

I'm fairly new to running and have been following a 20 week couch to half marathon training program to prepare for the DLP half in September. I should (as I write this) be out on my week 5 distance run for this but instead am down for the count with some flu-like illness. How do I reintegrate my training program next week when I am healthy enough to start running again? The program has me doing 2 timed runs twice a week and a distance run on Saturday. Today I should have done my third week of a 4 mile run and then the next two weekends I am scheduled for a 5 mile run. In terms of giving my body time to recuperate from being sick and from not running for several days, is it better to have "skipped" the 4 mile run or one of the 5 mile runs (or should I split the difference and next week do 4.5 miles?)

Thanks in advance from a newbie runner for your collective wisdom and experience!

Wish I had any good advice for you. I'm relatively new too. I've never followed a program but have always made mine up based on other things. I've found that when I take a week or two off (usually from vacation) I'm a little behind where I was but surprisingly less than expected. For me the trick is like Dory might say, just keep running.

My opinion as a relative newbie is just pick up where you left off an pretend that time never happened. You'll be a few days behind but hopefully you have a little slack built in.

I'm training for my first 1/2 in November and that's what I would do. But experts might disagree.

 

[Swissmiss]

Wish I had any good advice for you. I'm relatively new too. I've never followed a program but have always made mine up based on other things. I've found that when I take a week or two off (usually from vacation) I'm a little behind where I was but surprisingly less than expected. For me the trick is like Dory might say, just keep running.

My opinion as a relative newbie is just pick up where you left off an pretend that time never happened. You'll be a few days behind but hopefully you have a little slack built in.

I'm training for my first 1/2 in November and that's what I would do. But experts might disagree.

Thanks - I think that is what I'll try to do, at the same time listening to my body and not pushing it too much. Luckily it has come in the earlier stages of my training! Good luck on your first half marathon!

 

[BrianV]

Just completed a 9 miles run spanning 1h 33 min. Runkeeper tells me this is my PR for distance, duration, and calories burned. Oh, and I guess it is also my PR for pace at that distance. Iced down my ankle which felt off by the end, but now feels pretty good after stretching and walking. I think I'll probably take a day off tomorrow and maybe just do some elliptical work wednesday.

 

[JillC LI]

Planned to try to increase my mileage a little this weekend but the knee was acting up and I didn't want to jeopardize my recovery, so I stuck with 3 miles.

I'm fairly new to running and have been following a 20 week couch to half marathon training program to prepare for the DLP half in September. I should (as I write this) be out on my week 5 distance run for this but instead am down for the count with some flu-like illness. How do I reintegrate my training program next week when I am healthy enough to start running again? The program has me doing 2 timed runs twice a week and a distance run on Saturday. Today I should have done my third week of a 4 mile run and then the next two weekends I am scheduled for a 5 mile run. In terms of giving my body time to recuperate from being sick and from not running for several days, is it better to have "skipped" the 4 mile run or one of the 5 mile runs (or should I split the difference and next week do 4.5 miles?)

Thanks in advance from a newbie runner for your collective wisdom and experience!

Hi and welcome aboard! Sorry to hear you're sick during your training program. A lot of deciding what to do with a training program depends on how long you are out of commission. You didn't say if you only missed one long run or if you missed a couple of shorter runs that week as well. If it was just the long run (and maybe even also one shorter run before or afterwards), then given that you've already run 4 miles twice before, I'd just pick up where you left off. If you are missing a full week of running as a result of being sick, I'd probably compromise with a 4.5 mile run this coming weekend and 5 the next weekend. It's somewhat subjective though. See how you feel.

 

[Texas84]

I'm fairly new to running and have been following a 20 week couch to half marathon training program to prepare for the DLP half in September. I should (as I write this) be out on my week 5 distance run for this but instead am down for the count with some flu-like illness. How do I reintegrate my training program next week when I am healthy enough to start running again? The program has me doing 2 timed runs twice a week and a distance run on Saturday. Today I should have done my third week of a 4 mile run and then the next two weekends I am scheduled for a 5 mile run. In terms of giving my body time to recuperate from being sick and from not running for several days, is it better to have "skipped" the 4 mile run or one of the 5 mile runs (or should I split the difference and next week do 4.5 miles?)

Thanks in advance from a newbie runner for your collective wisdom and experience!

I would resume your plan. Don't skip ahead because those gradual increases are important. If you fall short a week on your plan you will be fine.

 

[dreamfinder]

Sat as 8ish outside with the jogger. Pace was all over the place, did ~3 with my DW at her pace, then dropped her off at home and did another 5ish on my own while my DS was still asleep. My arms hurt more than anything else after that much pushing.

What did I miss? What's with your knee?
I could've written your post as well about me yesterday ... 3 miles at easy pace. Knee was okay while running but it a little achy today. Not gonna increase my distance yet.

Nothing serious, just occasional pain that still flares up from time to time. Usually means I've either been slacking on my stretching, or my shoes are shot and need to be replaced. In this case both are most likely true.

Feel free to skip the lingo and say things however you'd like And congrats on signing up for your first Half!

Ditto. It's more important to simply run the miles than to worry about how to say you ran them.

 

[Swissmiss]

Hi and welcome aboard! Sorry to hear you're sick during your training program. A lot of deciding what to do with a training program depends on how long you are out of commission. You didn't say if you only missed one long run or if you missed a couple of shorter runs that week as well. If it was just the long run (and maybe even also one shorter run before or afterwards), then given that you've already run 4 miles twice before, I'd just pick up where you left off. If you are missing a full week of running as a result of being sick, I'd probably compromise with a 4.5 mile run this coming weekend and 5 the next weekend. It's somewhat subjective though. See how you feel.

Thanks - So far I have missed my Saturday long run and the short run for Monday evening (as it is already Monday evening for me ). Although I am tired and still coughing a bit, I am hoping that by Wednesday I can do my usual second short run but that will depend on whether what is left of the cough goes away.

I did sprint a bit to get to the bus (which, Murphy's law, was then late) and although it didn't seem to bother my lungs it did bother my legs, but that could have been due as much to not being in running shoes than to having been sick!

 

[Swissmiss]

I would resume your plan. Don't skip ahead because those gradual increases are important. If you fall short a week on your plan you will be fine.

Resume as in pick up where I left off or pick up from where I should be the day I pick up again? Because if the former, that would mean missing one of the recovery weeks at the end of the plan (the plan finishes with the DLP half marathon). I would think those recovery weeks are more important than doing a third week of 4 miles or only having only one week rather than two of 5 mile runs, but as I am not very experienced, I don't want to make a bad choice. At the moment I have only missed the 3rd 4 mile long run and my first short run of this week. I am hoping to be well enough to do the second short run of this week.

And I think I better get to like running in the rain, because we aren't supposed to see much sun here until the end of this month. Luckily all my short runs can be done on the treadmill at work.

 

[dreamfinder]

Yesterday was 3.1@2i, 1@7:13, 1@6:58, 1@6:44, .1@6:30 followed by 10 mins of bike. Today was 2.33@2i@8:30. DS was up for a few hours last night and I'm fighting something off, so just wasn't into going faster.

Thanks - So far I have missed my Saturday long run and the short run for Monday evening (as it is already Monday evening for me ). Although I am tired and still coughing a bit, I am hoping that by Wednesday I can do my usual second short run but that will depend on whether what is left of the cough goes away.

According to my PCP, (and somewhat from personal experience) once of the best ways to help clear stuff out is to get out and run. Always seems to loosen stuff up and make it easier to breathe. Which usually works better if you run outside, otherwise you may need to periodically pause the treadmill to run to the trash can. That's the main reason why I ran today instead of biked.

Resume as in pick up where I left off or pick up from where I should be the day I pick up again?....And I think I better get to like running in the rain, because we aren't supposed to see much sun here until the end of this month. Luckily all my short runs can be done on the treadmill at work.

Usually resume as if you had missed nothing. I think that philosophy usually hopes you have a bit of base to fall back on, but if you only missed a workout or two, jump right back in as if you had completed them and keep going. Listen to your body of course and dial it back a bit if you need to, but most bodies will be able to adapt to a missed workout.

Running in the rain/cold/wind is much better than sitting at a desk on a sunny day, just remember that. Since you can never predict the weather on race day it's usually a good idea to get a few runs in during any weather you may experience, just so you know how your body/gear will react. (Your favorite running shirt may turn into razor blades on delicate/exposed body parts if it gets soaked through in the rain and you don't want to experience that for the first time at a race. Trust me.....)

 

[JillC LI]

Thanks - So far I have missed my Saturday long run and the short run for Monday evening (as it is already Monday evening for me ). Although I am tired and still coughing a bit, I am hoping that by Wednesday I can do my usual second short run but that will depend on whether what is left of the cough goes away.

If you are able to do your short run on Wednesday without difficulty, I'd go for the 5 on the weekend. If you're still a tad under the weather, go for 4.5 . Or maybe change your running days to Wed/Fri/Sun this week so you can still do two short runs.

 

[Texas84]

Resume as in pick up where I left off or pick up from where I should be the day I pick up again? Because if the former, that would mean missing one of the recovery weeks at the end of the plan (the plan finishes with the DLP half marathon). I would think those recovery weeks are more important than doing a third week of 4 miles or only having only one week rather than two of 5 mile runs, but as I am not very experienced, I don't want to make a bad choice. At the moment I have only missed the 3rd 4 mile long run and my first short run of this week. I am hoping to be well enough to do the second short run of this week.

And I think I better get to like running in the rain, because we aren't supposed to see much sun here until the end of this month. Luckily all my short runs can be done on the treadmill at work.

Say you missed your 5 mile run. Do it next time. Don't skip it. Yes, keep your recovery week at the end even if it means skipping a long run at the end. I always tell first timers for a half, at least give me a training 10-miler and you will be fine.

I like running in the rain. Just don't run in thunder and/or lightning.

 

[Swissmiss]

Running in the rain/cold/wind is much better than sitting at a desk on a sunny day, just remember that. Since you can never predict the weather on race day it's usually a good idea to get a few runs in during any weather you may experience, just so you know how your body/gear will react. (Your favorite running shirt may turn into razor blades on delicate/exposed body parts if it gets soaked through in the rain and you don't want to experience that for the first time at a race. Trust me.....)

Thanks so much for all the advice @dreamfinder but especially this last paragraph - which of course should have already been obvious to me but I hadn't thought of it in that way . So I will now embrace the rainy weather we have had for weeks on end and tell myself it is all there to help me prepare for the DLP half marathon

 

[Swissmiss]

If you are able to do your short run on Wednesday without difficulty, I'd go for the 5 on the weekend. If you're still a tad under the weather, go for 4.5 . Or maybe change your running days to Wed/Fri/Sun this week so you can still do two short runs.

Good ideas, thanks! I knew if I posted on this thread I'd find some really helpful people and I really appreciate the time you all have taken to give me advice.

 

[Swissmiss]

I like running in the rain. Just don't run in thunder and/or lightning.

Then you'd be very happy here at the moment . Actually, I don't mind warmer rains - provided that I am doing a circle and ending up back home. But it just so happens that I have lately run outward and take public transportation back, but that is because I was trying to fit the run around DD's Saturday activities.

 

[surfsupdon]

I did a 38 mins run today, through the woods at my school, and it was so humid...I had swarms of gnats around my head the entire way it was gross.

But I did it! Then I did my chest and tri workout...and have my power yoga practice tonight.

I like being accountable in this thread to all of you. And I like hearing what everyone else is doing--fitness for life #fitfam

 

[JillC LI]

But it just so happens that I have lately run outward and take public transportation back, but that is because I was trying to fit the run around DD's Saturday activities.

I've had to squeeze in hundreds of runs around my kids' activities. A mom's work is never done!

 

[Swissmiss]

I've had to squeeze in hundreds of runs around my kids' activities. A mom's work is never done!

So true! Luckily I have a boss who is very supportive of my training schedule - he'll often suggest that we finish something up the next day because he knows that I have a tight window at the end of the work day and the start of mom duties. And I've been making my DD part of my weekend runs - she accompanies me on her bike or scooter so that she sees that my getting into shape is a family affair.