chest cold - dilemma

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2009-08-21 11:30 PM

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Subject: chest cold - dilemma

Disappointingly, it appears I have a chest cold eight days ahead of Ironman Canada. 

I know who I caught the cold from and know how this chest cold is going to play out getting worse just on Ironman day. 

I am now asking myself if I should even participate?  Is trashing your body for two months recovery  worth the experience of completing an Ironman especially if you have already completed an Ironman. 
If I can't make a shot at a good finishing time, do I want to attempt such a feat with a cold? 

My thinking right now is no.  I hope to get sick as a dog and have this decision made for me. 

I'm hoping the decision will be unequivacol and 'made for me'.  Advice?

2009-08-22 9:23 AM
in reply to: #2363755

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Subject: RE: chest cold - dilemma
A guy at work decided to train through his cold (P90X, not tri training).  Now he has pneumonia.  AND he's trying to decide if he should train through it.  I told him he should totally do it - if he puts me in his will first.
2009-08-22 2:00 PM
in reply to: #2363755

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Subject: RE: chest cold - dilemma
If it was me - I'd probably do nothing but rest, drink lots of fluids, and hope.   (I'm a believer in the mustard pack - but I know that's sort of hedge-witchery...)

Would you be willing to sacrifice your goals if you felt well enough on race day to participate? 

I don't think it's worth making yourself really sick to participate if you're still not well on race day - but you might bounce back faster than the person you know.  I'd keep my options open and decide either the day before - or race day itself.

Just my 0.02$
2009-08-22 3:08 PM
in reply to: #2363755

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Subject: RE: chest cold - dilemma

All good advice.  Thank-you for helping me put my plan in order.
I think I will abandon all of the last week of training and simply rest.  I will decide the morning of the Ironman whether I will participate. 

This whole issue goes to the question of motivation.  Why do I do Ironman?  Do I complete the challenge to simply complete it, or to attempt a superior performance each attempt.  Do I do it to compete against others in my age category?  If I participate in Ironman for 15 years, I WILL get slower and have to accept that fact. 

What I DON'T want is to get stuck in nebulous territory where I'm 80% recovered which will deny me a superior performance but allow me to complete the Ironman.  What would I have gained by doing that Ironman? Perhaps I'm missing a concept here or an understanding of Ironman. 

I know in my heart I enjoy the training more than the competition and I use Ironman to simply gauge how well I did in the training.  So...maybe I should just go back to Penticton in 3 weeks and run my OWN Ironman?  

2009-08-23 7:07 PM
in reply to: #2363755

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Subject: RE: chest cold - dilemma
Make sure to drink lots of fluids- also I am firm believer that drinking green tea helps.  Most importantly, get lots and lots of sleep.  You'd be amazed at how much sleep can help clear up a cold.  Good luck- I hope it clears up for ya before the race.

Also, before one of my marathons I came down with a cold.  I did sinus flushes every day and that also seemed to help clear things up.  If you have a lot of head congestion that will really help you out!
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