Any helpful suggestions, encouragement and/or advice you can offer? I am supposed to race in my first half ironman this wkd, June 8. It is supposed to be a very challenging one - the run is very hilly - but I have a good base and have done plenty of training. My dilemma: As of last Saturday, I have contracted what looks like is an intestinal virus. I have kept little to no food or drink down, and am starting to get muscle cramps. I have also lost 6 lbs in the last 4 days. I visited my doctor today and he said there isn’t much they can do to help a virus but have me “wait it out”. He also said if my symptoms continue for 2 more days, than it is probably a bacterial infection. In regards to the race he said it was a tough call, but if he had to make one he would err on the side of caution and not race. Today I am starting to feel a little better and am keeping my food/drink down but I am concerned about my ability to sufficiently recover by Sunday. Is it possible to “refuel” my glycogen stores by Sunday? Am I an idiot to at least show up for the race on Sunday, attempt it, and see how I feel? I have been training for several months and endured 4:30 a.m. workouts 6 days a week to work around my children’s (1 1/2 year triplets!) schedule, so it would be a big disappointment to quit now. Thanks in advance…
I know where your coming from. I got a nice intestinal virus while racing in mexico twice. After the second on I tried to race a duathlon the next weekend and the first run went ok. I was about 15-20 sec slower than usual for that type of course. On the bike I was riding great until the hills. Then a bunch of old guys on beach cruisers passed me follow by people walking their dog. I tossed it in (no pun). I would personally wait and make the decision on race morning to race or not. In the meantime I would keep hydrated and eat when I felt I could. Triplets eh? Your a superwoman already.
I’ve got no advice, I just hope you get better. I say, if you feel alright, and have eaten for a couple of days, go for it, start out conservatively, and finish.
I am not a doctor, though. Good luck.
Wow, what dumb luck.
If you have a good relationship with you doctor, tell them to give you antibiotics now. At least you will be symtom free by the race. If it is viral, then it should be better by the race. This is one time I would take the antibiotics no matter what. Yes you can develop resistance…if you do this all the time. You have put too much time into your training to give up four days before the race. One time of unnessesary antibiotics will not make you resistant.
Try to stay hydrated and energized with bland foods. Great time for plain whole wheat pasta.
Good luck
This is a tough decision. Can you find another Half to register for?
I would skip the race and get healthy. Sounds like you may be out of training for only a short period if you give it a rest. I’ve made the mistake of “training through” or not getting enough recovery and then paying for it by really ending up sick for a few weeks. Think about the rest of your season.
Even if you dont care about the rest of the season its not much fun going backwards on the race course cause your still suffering from being ill.
Its a hard call to make to skip a race you’ve trained for. Hope you get well quick whatever you decide.
Good luck
You do not want to race on Antibiotics…they will make you worn down. I would put the race off. There is no way that your body will have the energy to race well…and IF you do finish you may be in worse shape. I would plan for another race that you will kick ass in.
I know it’s a tough decision but… don’t race on sunday even if you feel better. Racing with a virus can endanger your life, since there’s a chance the virus that is causing your illness or another opportunist virus can lodge in your heart, causing permanent heart damage. If it’s a bacterial infection, then you’ll be put on antibiotics, causing you to be even more weak than you are now.
My advice to you is to stop thinking about this race immediately and look for a race 3-4 weeks from now. Train solidly for 2-3 weeks, taper and all that training you’ve done will be there to help you have a great race.
Take care
Paulo
Sounds like the 1/2Max? Also sounds like you may have started coming out of it. I think you and the Doc are the best ones positioned to make the call. If your appetitie returns you can hydrate and refule and get some energy back then you may still have a shot. I would lean on the doc for this one. If you get a yellow light, I would approach the race as an easy training day. Don’t be in a hurry for anything, you’re just there for the experience. Promise yourself and your kids you do the right thing and the smart thing to pack it in if required.
If it’s the 1/2Max and you make it I’ll look for you…you should be easy to spot with triplets in tow!
You need to make the call in cooperation with the Dr. I would do all you could to get food and H2O down for the next 3 days. I personally would go to the race and see how I feel. YOU MUST BE SMART ON RACE DAY. Change priorites from time goal to finish and enjoy the experience. Sounds like it is 1/2 MAX. I will see you there. I feel for you my friend. Just play it by ear. Not much reason to make decisions now. Remember the body … especially a healthy one, can do amazing things when recovering. Just be smart. Make sure those little 3 bambinos have you around for a long time. Dont attempt to do any crazy stuff.
I just got over being mildy sick for about 4 days. Just generally feeling crappy. I had a bit of a bit of a head cold and was generally fatigued. When I started working out again I couldn’t believe how little strength I had. It wasn’t just from taking those days off either, I routinely encounter 4-5 day periods where I don’t workout but I always bounce back strong. I would hate to run a 1/2 and not be at full strength. Sure it could posibly be done (assuming you are indeed over your sickness) but even though a sickness is over, the effects of it take a while to recover from. I did a little bit too hard of a swim last night and feel like crap today. Looks like I’m still not fully recovered.
Thanks for everyone’s response. The verdict is back - I am not going to race the 1/2 Max this weekend. I am still sick. I was up last night and this morning still trying to keep food and drink down. I am discouraged because it has been a feat in itself just trying to train for this around my kid’s and husband’s work/travel schedule - Try getting up before 4 a.m. to ride the computrainer for a few hours before the kids wake up!
Luckily, I am signed up for Muncie in July so my efforts will not be wasted. My husband and family are very supportive of my participation in this sport, despite the craziness of trying to train around family commitments. It gets me out of the house so I can get some peace and quiet! Whoever said 13 mile runs are not relaxing?!
Muncie is a great race, might be the longest running 1/2IM around. There can be some chop on the swim, on the last leg towards the beach head for the light! Not a pun :)! Fast bike, mostly flat on closed state roads these days. The run can be toasty with little shade and a few rollers.
Probably good choice. I hope I don’t have top make that decison in the future. That aside there is always Buffalo Spring Half on June 29. Perfect time to begin a taper schedule. It is hot and mostly flat on the bike, is a bit more hilly. But Mike and Marti Greer put on an incredibly well run and supported race there in Lubbock. Oh yeah, and Southwest airlines flies there for pretty cheap.
Good luck
This is correct. I’ve seen many heart valves damaged to the point that surgery is required to repair them…and the new valve you have to live with is never as good as the one you were born with. Just don’t take the chance whenever you are sick like this, OR, if you even have a fever, don’t exercise more than just a stroll around the block…and I don’t mean a power-walk, either.