Marathon, half, 10km or nada?

earnyourturns

Disclaimer: not looking for medical advice, more fitness/training advice

Okay, so for the past few months I've been training for the Christchurch Marathon, which takes place on Sunday June 3. Following a sort of variation of good ol' Hal Highdon (15 weeks training, 3 week taper), running four times a week, including intervals/a tempo run. Been doing a lot of trail and hill running as part of that as well, including a few big trail races. Training was going really well, I've run 3 marathons before in the 4:19 - 4:25 range, and was hoping to knock some of those minutes off in Christchurch.

Anyway, a week and a half ago (ie: the end of Week 13 in the plan) I ran the Routeburn Classic, this insane 20 mile trail run along the Routeburn Track which people normally walk in three days, goes from 500m up to 1200m and back down and stuff. Great day, and finished in 5hrs 15 which I was delighted with.

Next day, however, came down with some virus (first I thought I was just tired and dehydrated - apparently not, went to the doctor and stuff) which absolutely wiped me: no energy, palpitations (those were fun....) etc. Spent 3 days in bed and the rest of the week recuperating.

Went for first run back last night (so now we're into Week 15, ie; this should be peak mileage week) and I just felt ... tired and flat. Ran 4.5 miles at a low effort (if that makes sense) but was waay off pace. Mental energy wasn't there either.

So I'm not sure what to do about the marathon in three and a half weeks time. If I run it, am I just stressing my body out too much again? Similarly, should I be trying to get a long run in this week? The pain of the Routeburn is still very fresh in my mind, man those last few kms hurt . Or drop down to the half-marathon or 10km event? Or just sit this one out? ChCh marathon is in the running for World's Most Boring Marathon Course, I reckon, I was really just going there to mean business and run a fast time.

Hmmm.

Getonwithit

earnyourturns wrote: »

Disclaimer: not looking for medical advice, more fitness/training advice

Okay, so for the past few months I've been training for the Christchurch Marathon, which takes place on Sunday June 3. Following a sort of variation of good ol' Hal Highdon (15 weeks training, 3 week taper), running four times a week, including intervals/a tempo run. Been doing a lot of trail and hill running as part of that as well, including a few big trail races. Training was going really well, I've run 3 marathons before in the 4:19 - 4:25 range, and was hoping to knock some of those minutes off in Christchurch.

Anyway, a week and a half ago (ie: the end of Week 13 in the plan) I ran the Routeburn Classic, this insane 20 mile trail run along the Routeburn Track which people normally walk in three days, goes from 500m up to 1200m and back down and stuff. Great day, and finished in 5hrs 15 which I was delighted with.

Next day, however, came down with some virus (first I thought I was just tired and dehydrated - apparently not, went to the doctor and stuff) which absolutely wiped me: no energy, palpitations (those were fun....) etc. Spent 3 days in bed and the rest of the week recuperating.

Went for first run back last night (so now we're into Week 15, ie; this should be peak mileage week) and I just felt ... tired and flat. Ran 4.5 miles at a low effort (if that makes sense) but was waay off pace. Mental energy wasn't there either.

So I'm not sure what to do about the marathon in three and a half weeks time. If I run it, am I just stressing my body out too much again? Similarly, should I be trying to get a long run in this week? The pain of the Routeburn is still very fresh in my mind, man those last few kms hurt . Or drop down to the half-marathon or 10km event? Or just sit this one out? ChCh marathon is in the running for World's Most Boring Marathon Course, I reckon, I was really just going there to mean business and run a fast time.

Hmmm.

What was doctors diagnosis? You said a virus was it anything more specific? We're you put on a course of anything by the doctor?

Clearlier

This is one of those times when the ability to listen to what your body is telling you is critical. If you regularly keep an eye on your resting heart rate then that can give you some objective guidance as to how your body is.

The danger here is that you look at the schedule and think it says 20 miles this weekend so off you go. It sounds like you're aware enough to avoid that trap though.

For the moment you need to forget about your target in the marathon and focus on getting your body into position to train again. Do what training you can over the next two weeks always remembering that less is more when recovering and then reassess where you are in two weeks time. If you don't feel that you have fully recovered by then I'd seriously consider not doing the marathon. It will be difficult for you to assess what time you are going to do. The down time will have an impact on your fitness although it might be pretty small. If you do very little training over the next two weeks but do manage to effect a full recovery then consider dropping down to the half or 10k - I would suggest whichever you have a better opportunity of getting a PB in!

earnyourturns

Doctor's diagnosis was just an unspecified viral infection. Nothing to be done, just plenty of rest, fluids and glucose.

Yeah, definitely keeping an eye on resting heart rate. When I was sick it was 90:eek:, then on my first day out of bed I walked up a flight of stairs and had palpitations and pulse went up to 100. Feeling back to normal now, but again just listening to body, ie; had planned on running 6 miles last night, but when realised that I was a bit tired, cut it short. A few years ago I would have run myself into the ground, thinking "if the plan says 6 miles, I MUST run 6 miles to the dot" etc etc.

But yeah, have run enough miles over the past few years to know not to slavishly stick to any plan, very much just listening to my body on this one. Just don't know if it's worth the physical and mental energy to run a ho-hum marathon.

drquirky

Honestly- ask your doctor and follow their advise. For reference I would check out this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056501758

Also- not sure what kind of training/ fitness advise you are looking for- to me this seems like purely a medical issue.

Brianderunner

Take it handy coming back. A virus flattened me for the month of March and April. Missed the London marathon over it. Back running now but missed a large chink of training.

GP's don't have a clue what they're talking about you will find.

Rolex_

Brianderunner wrote: »

Take it handy coming back. A virus flattened me for the month of March and April. Missed the London marathon over it. Back running now but missed a large chink of training.

GP's don't have a clue what they're talking about you will find.

Really there is no black and white answer to a lot of these dilemmas. There is a trade off between allowing the body to recover from injury/illness and the desire to compete. A sympathetic doctor (especially if he or she is interested in sport) will understand your dilemma and will not be didactic in terms of telling you to mothball the trainers for a while. There is a trade off- don't compete and get better faster OR compete and risk delaying your recovery/new illness-injury. A motivated athlete will ultimately have to make that decision for him/herself based on a whole range of factors - medical advice should only be one of those factors (unless you have an ailment or injury which clearly means you should not complete on medical grounds)