Day 33

I have been fighting a cold since Monday night. I've gone to bed before 9:00 p.m. every night so far this week with the exception of Tuesday. I'm starting to feel better but my training has suffered.

I managed to finish 3.5 miles of my 4 mile run on Tuesday night. My stuffy nose actually cleared up during the first mile of my run and I remember thinking to myself, "This might not be so bad after all". Wow was I wrong! I made it to the 3 mile mark and lost steam almost instantly. By mile 3.5, I was almost falling over my own feet and decided it was time to walk. Sometimes I think our bodies know better than our minds when to quit. I could barely move off the floor when I finally made it home and collapsed.

Yesterday was the worst day of my cold and I missed my run completely. I was only supposed to run 3 miles so I'm still debating on making it up tonight or taking it easy and just calling yesterday a lost training day. I don't think it will really hurt to miss one run. I really want to be strong enough to complete my long run this week on Sunday (a day later than normal).

I knew this would happen eventually. I just had a feeling when I started training that I would have to deal with an illness at some point. I suppose it probably isn't that uncommon for runners to deal with illness during a long training program. I could be really frustrated about how this week has panned out but when I step back and look at the big picture, I realize this is just a minor setback, a hurdle, and I just need to move forward.

~Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:30,31~