Will I Lose My Fitness?

This question from Katie, one of our subscribers, is not unusual and it seems to be that runners are scared that they will fall way behind with their training should they have to curtail their programme for any length of time. I hope that should you read this it will give you some encouragement.

QUESTION:

Hi,
I’m training for London marathon, I’ve only been running 12 months although to date its been very successful.  I’ve joined a running club, run 6 miles twice a week with them, a long run on a Sunday and cross train in between.

I’ve run about 4 10K races, best time of 48mins and a half marathon of 1 hr 50.  I’m 38.  I have got into London Marathon through my running clubs charity arm which is Action Heart – this is due to me loosing my Dad to a heart attack in May last year which is what spurred my properly into running and training for the marathon.  To date I have raised over 1K and hope to double this.

This is where I need some help.  Early December I got a bad cold and continued running albeit not to the intensity I had. From mid Dec till 29 Dec I have run a couple of six mile runs and a 4 mile run when my cold developed into a cough and a chest infection.  I went to the doctors on Tuesday and have anti-biotics to last until Sunday.  I have heeded his advice and done nothing whilst having the cough.  I am very concerned that my fitness would have been low in December and I have missed the start of my training for the Marathon which was scheduled 1st January.  Can you please let me know if you think I will still have retained enough fitness to take off another week prior to training as I’m very worried that I wont be able to do my schedule and fit in my long training runs.  I am itching to get back to training and dont want to let anyone down but also I dont want my infection to continue longer than is necessary or cause me any danger.

Can you help please.

Also If I do need to take longer off to what level should I return.  I was using a 4 runs a week plan, starting at two 6 mile tempo runs, 1 4 mile steady run and a long run starting at 10 mile at the weekend and working up.

Please help.

Kind regards

Katie

ANSWER:
 
Hi Katie,
I know that this is no consolation but I am sure that there are very many runners suffering the same as you.
It is very, very important that you only start running when you have finished the antibiotics and feel well enough to run.

There is no point in worrying and feeling negative about things – what is done is done and you now have to reassess where you are in your training and start building again. The good thing is that after a few runs you will start to feel much better about things – providing that you do not push it before you are ready.

You have to remember that no training schedule is cast in stone, you have to be flexible. Even Olympic and World Champions are faced with problems that hinder their training – it is not the problem but the way you handle it is important. You have plenty of time to get your self back in shape to run well in London, but please remember you cant play “catch up” by that I mean if you miss 1 weeks training all will be OK if you do twice as much the following week – this simply does not work.
Listen to your body for the first week or so and take it from there.
Don’t worry you will be fine.
Regards
Peter

REPLY:

Many thanks Peter
 
Your advice was very positive and very very helpful.
 
I did a my first run last night a 6 mile run in the gym and although it was tougher than normal I managed it ok and it has given me the confidence I needed.  (and I feel ok so i’m ready to get back to it now)
 
I’ve also amended my schedule so my build up is a little slower, not playing catch up as you very sensibly suggested.
 
Many thanks for your advice, I’m now feeling raring to go and excited again at the challenge.
 
Kind regards
 
Katie