Dang it, yes. But the good news is that I was really only down for a few days with a nasty cold though it sure wanted to convince me it was the flu. Best cure for a cold? Downton Abbey is massive doses mixed with equal parts sleep. Boom! Finished season three and kicked the cold! Well for the most part anyway. Today I went for a second run since feeling better. My first day back was rough, I was really feeling the reduced lung capacity and the hills out of reed pushed my HR up to 181, thigh highest I have seen in a long while. But I made it through my six mile base route though a tad slowly, but thats ok. The main thing to me was getting through the run and doing it with not feeling so hot. It is so easy to procrastinate running while waiting to feel 100%. I think that if my lungs can handle the activity, that I can go ahead an run through an illness, just maybe at a reduced level (umm, no 180+ HR counts please…)

Today I headed out again on another base run, this time in the pouring rain. My pace was much better today and I felt a good amount of energy throughout the run. I am a little tired afterwards but not nearly as bad as I was Monday. MY overall HR was pretty high -153 avg- but I felt strong. And my pace was good, sub 10 min miles. Running while recovering from sickness can be really hard, but I am always so glad when I have done it. Yesterday I wanted to run and didn’t, which was probably not a bad thing, but I was a bit bummed out I didn’t get out (especially with today’s steady rain!) I think it is the attitude boost that is most important to help me regain health. Pretty much how I think running affects my thoughts on ms.

I sometimes wonder about the negative affects of the exertion. If I am so wiped out after a run does that do more bad than good? I think it depends. On the one hand I think the body needs rest most of all to recover from sickness. On the other the emotional (as well as physical) benefits to running when you don’t really feel like it are huge. Feels like a big accomplishment to have gotten up for a run. I also think it it is good to clear out crud from my lungs. I may not be the most social runner when I am hacking and spitting through the miles, but I know it does some good. At least as long as the air outside isn’t too cold and especially if it isn’t super dry out (ahh some good reason to run sick in the rain!) Hot shower when done feels especially good as well!

I am looking forward to some healthy running coming up soon!