A Small Setback, But It's Early

So...I have a raging upper respiratory infection and ear infection. Causes absurd amounts of deep chest coughing and lots of "popped" ears. Also makes it really hard to breathe. And, you guessed it, you need to be able to breathe to run. So this is a setback, but I don't think it is major and it is still relatively early in training.

I don't think it's a tragedy because I have perspective...it's not like I am out to WIN the marathon, or even place in my age group...I am out to finish. I may finish last and I don't care because I will have finished a marathon. I am going to be slow anyway. Also, the doc knows I am a runner and said I could run as long as I used an inhaler right before I ran and then carried it with me for the next several weeks. Didn't even flinch at my first half being in 1.5 weeks. This is good. The reality is that until some of it clears up I am going to be walking.

I walked with the training program tonight and did the whole 7 miles (I did take the phone and allowed myself the potential to go back early if needed). I was able to maintain a 15:00 mile the whole time. While this isn't super amazing, it gives me hope because two years ago that was as well as I could do perfectly healthy...again, I have perspective.

So...tomorrow I will probably bike and not swim (ear infection probably needs a few days). Thursday and Friday I will probably stick to my mileage, just slower. Saturday's long run will be at a 15:00 pace for the whole 14 miles...it isn't worth pushing now and having this last longer than necessary. And Sunday I will rest (ok, we have bowling league but the way I bowl that doesn't count for much).

There are still plenty of long runs, short runs, tempo runs, intervals, and races before June. It's still early.

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