Cold go away!

Don't you just love having a cold that seems to linger forever?

This inkling cold started Monday with a little tickle in the back of my throat and went full fledged nasty beast cold Wednesday morning when I woke up with a fever.  And I had to drive around with 2 coworkers for a market tour....greeeaaat.   I struggled through it and by the end of the day my head felt clear enough that I headed to the gym to get my little run in.  My physical therapist had actually suggested running Tuesday and Thursday- 10 minutes each day, 1% grade on the treadmill, comfortable but not easy speed to be able to gauge how my legs were feeling when she saw me next on Friday.

Tuesday I had a market meeting in Towson and I was excited about running all day- but my legs told me a big resounding NO by the time I left the hotel.  It might have been the heels I was wearing all day combined with all the sitting, either way it was a no.  One huge mental battle I've been working on is truly listening to my body and being smart with my workouts.  I really get it now- there were many times that I pushed myself past what I should have and I am paying for it now with these injuries.  I shouldn't have ran that last 8 miles when my legs were already feeling pretty sore and crappy.  Sometimes, we just make stupid decisions, let's face the music.  Well, now I am determined to train smart- and safely.


So on Wednesday, even though my head was a little foggy still, my legs felt solid as a rock and I had a GREAT run under the guidelines Barb had set.  I felt good afterwards as well but couldn't run Thursday obviously because she didn't want me to run two days in a row.  Friday I had physical therapy and felt good right after everything and could have run...but I really needed to get to work and my sore throat was really feeling lousy on top of it.  In my head I would be able to run after I got back from the hospital I was visiting so after a quick change and heading off, I packed a spare changed of clothes to run before I came home.

Well, I made it to the gym and changed even though I just wasn't feeling right.  I foam rolled and stretched well before warming up on the treadmill at a walk.....to have the familiar and dreaded pain in my hamstring lurking back in the form of some bad stiffness.  So, I did what I should have so many months before....I did NOT run.  I hopped on the elliptical but it didn't feel right there either.  So, with a frustrated and very congested head, I went back to the foam roller and re-rolled plus some extended stretching of my legs and arms.  I left feeling loose and comfortable and wanted to go back and try for a run but I knew it wouldn't have been right.

So....it's Sunday and after a very sick and sore throat/congested day I still have not run and am hoping my body will be thanking me tomorrow by allowing me to get a nice run in at physical therapy.  Saturday was very active though so I wasn't a total wash this weekend.  Adrian did a great job running his Alzheimer's Association Walk on Saturday!   I helped out by being one of the sweepers at the end of the walk picking up all the signs- so I got a good 2.5 mile quite hilly walk in.  Gorgeous weather to boot! I also went riding- but that will have to be another post because it was its own experience!

Go away cold!

Anyone else struggling with your first cold of the season? It sucks!