Should I run tonight...?

[T40ORA]

As the title says really.

I have a half marathon on Sunday, and th training schedule I have says that tonight should be a 30 minute interval session.

My foot is a little sore, but the main thing is that I feel like a have a cold; slight headache, slight cough and sore throat. Normally I'd just do what I want to, but as I have a run at the weekend I want to make sure that I do the right thing.

The schedule this week is quite light; I missed last SUnday's 1 hour run due to my foot and did 40 minutes on a cross trainer and cycle instead.

Tonight as I said should be 30 minutes intervals, tomorrow 30 minutes steady and Thursday 30 minutes easy (I'm only aimning for sub 2hrs).

So would I be better off running through the 'cold', or would I be better off resting - even if I don't run at all until the actual half on SUnday?

Apologies if it's a facile question but I thought I would see what the popular wisdom is....

[ewenm]

My experience is that you can't improve your performance in this final week but can damage it. I'd take as much time off training as you need while you're feeling under the weather. A couple of days of rest, lots of vitamin C and paracetamol should see you right.

[Randy Winkman]

You've probably made up your mind by now but I'm with ewenm. The opportunity to improve your performance at the weekend is tiny. The opportunity to ruin it is substantial.

[ShadownINja]

Bizarrely, I was just browsing this site:
http://www.bodyandfitness.com/Information/Fitness/...

Perhaps you should spend more time filling the fuel tank now?

[T40ORA]

Oh well, I did that wrong then!

I'll re-assess the rest of the week then.

[Randy Winkman]

T40ORA said:

Oh well, I did that wrong then!

I'll re-assess the rest of the week then.

I knew you'd go out. I'm sure you'll be fine though.

[T40ORA]

Well, it's bleeding addictive, and I'm a bloke.

Only a flesh wound (as Python once said).....

[AlexanderV8]

T40ORA said:

Well, it's bleeding addictive, and I'm a bloke.

Only a flesh wound (as Python once said).....

I ran for years........hated every minute of it. I think you brainwash yourself into thinking it's doing you some good, so you just push yourself on & on. I suppose it's better than nothing but I never felt healthy because I always felt knackered . I have a drawer full of finishing medals to show for my time running though, along with several trips to the doctor to help with hip & knee bursitis which I picked up along the way.

[T40ORA]

I'm completely the opposite. I love it when I get into the zone, I love the feeling of well being having finished a run. I love the sense of achievement just from having been on my feet for two hours. I love how healthy I feel all the time.

Sometimes it is a complete pain, and I have to force myself to set off. But generally I just get a buzz; reall addiction.

Never had any medals, and never will. Maybe because I don't push myself too hard, so that I am always enjoying rather than struggling.

[ShadownINja]

Yes... it is addictive (not necessarily in a good way if you overdo it and injure yourself or it takes over your life in the usual alcoholism way...).

[ewenm]

T40ORA said:

Never had any medals, and never will. Maybe because I don't push myself too hard, so that I am always enjoying rather than struggling.

You will... after all, many races now give medals to all finishers.

Knowing what my goals are and ensuring they are ambitious yet achievable keeps me putting the miles in (apart from my current injury!). Sometimes (usually for the morning run) I don't want to go out for my run, but most of the time it's not too bad.

[335Diesel]

Have to say that I enjoy running too - you can do it anywhere (on hols for example) with minimal kit, you can discover new places, get into the countryside (in this area that also means along cliff paths which are stunning - unless you fall off) and it doesn't have to take ages - a hard half hour run is a decent slog for most people. Plus you can take a dog!

No medals apart from a tri (there was a running section) but annoyingly close a couple of times - 5th out of 700 and 5th out of 120. I usually overdo it and am crippled for a few days but it's worth the pain. But it's not really about racing for me - yes it's nice to have a marker but that's all it is really. It's about getting out there in any weather and being very close to nature (only do trail running). The hillier and more challenging, the better (within reason).

Will also never be the "right" shape for being a top level runner - years of weights and surfing means too much upper body weight. But that's not exactly tragic.