Working out while sick: More facetious tips.

I don't know what my throat's problem is, but it woke up sore again this morning.  In fact, I felt like complete crap when I got up--the worst I've felt throughout this week of sickness and snot.  I was glad a run wasn't on the schedule, because it would definitely NOT have been done.  Instead, I pondered what weight workout I was up to doing.

*ponder* *ponder*

What I really wanted to do was this:

But I sucked it up (literally) and got on my weight-lifting duds.  I had intended to do one of my new Cathe Fit Split workouts, but I wanted to do some total body weights and I had already done that earlier in the week from that series.  So I ended up doing my usual Total Body Giant Sets from Cathe's Strong and Sweaty series, but just eliminated the last round of lower body so I could get my butt to work on time.

The hubbs thinks I'm crazy that I still work out while I'm sick, but I always feel better after I do.  There are some rules, however, you have to follow in order not to make yourself way, way sicker:

1. First, let's get serious: never ever work out if you have a fever and feel as if you could possibly need a trip to the hospital either before or after the workout.  In fact, if you think you shouldn't work out, then DON'T.  I once stupidly thought I could run a half marathon with a severe sinus infection + fever and almost did until I read the night before that if I did it could result in things like "pneumonia" and "hospitalization" and "coma."  I try not to tempt fate like that.
2. If you think you're good to work out, make sure all of the snot and phlegm are in your head region and not the chest.  If it's all in your head, go ahead!  Although I doubt if you had a chest cold you'd be able to do any cardio with ease.  (Never stopped me from smoking though - pathetic.)
3. Take it a little easier on yourself than you normally do.  For example, don't think you'll be busting out all those speed intervals at warp speed; do the intervals, but slow down the pace.  Or like I did on Thursday, reduce the mileage of your run.  If you're addicted to strength DVDs like I am, do a shortened version of your workout or do a lower-impact version. If I'm really sick but determined to still do a workout, I have a stretch yoga DVD that makes me feel way better yet doesn't stress out my immune system any more than it already is - and I get that "oh boy I still got a workout in!" fake badass feeling.
4. Always keep a box of tissues handy during the workout.  This is so your runny nose can stop your workout every 5 minutes to blow it, making it even more raw and red and stinging than it already is and causing you to miss the first few reps of whatever exercise is up on deck.
5. Revel in that post-workout "ZOMG my sinuses are so clear I CAN BREATHE AGAIN" feeling, because it won't last long until that brick of snot settles back in.
6. Don't let yourself be judged by your judgy zoo of animals, either, especially if the cat gives you that "stoopid hyooman" look.  Again.

Here it comes, stoopid hyooman.

Let's ponder some learnings:

• I think it's pretty obvious that I would rather err on the side of working out when I am sick.
• My nose is seriously raw.  Like, angry raw.  Angry, stinging, tear-inducing raw.
• It was probably not the best morning to force my squats and lunges to go deeper than I normally do.  Nope.
• Doesn't everyone ponder on an exercise ball?  
• I took more NyQuil again.  And these learnings are pretty clear evidence of that fact.

Tomorrow's workout: So there's this 17 mile run on the schedule that may have to be reconsidered...

Every graph tells a story. This one tells a really stupid one about running.

When I taught physical science back in the day (which consisted of basic physics and chemistry), we used to give students graphs and have them write the "story" of the motion of the object depicted in the graph.  I was the object in motion this morning with my speed workout (4 x 800 meter repeats at around a 7:40 pace) on the treadmill, and here is my graph:

So here is my story:

One day a slow old runner got on the treadmill to do a speed work at a faster pace than she has done in a while.  This is because she is trying to be a faster old runner.  Anyway, she starts running at a slow, turtle-like pace while watching the news because SO MUCH NEWS.  But then, because the furnace stopped working last night and it's, like, winter, it was so cold that her nose was constantly running, so she had to stop to blow her nose.  Then she kept on running at that slow pace for about a mile until she realized she was supposed to run faster for about half a mile and she had completely missed when she was supposed to up the speed.  So she started running faster, but then her damn nose kept running and she almost blew a snot rocket on the carpet out of habit but, thankfully, she remembered that she had a rag on the treadmill and she used that instead, stopping to make sure her aim was true.  Then she continued on with the workout.

Next, she walked her 2-minute recovery, gasping and panting and warm enough now that the lack of heat in her house didn't bother her that much.  The cat stared at her from the cat tree, accusing her with his eyes of being an idiot who was running to nowhere.

Despite the feline negativity, the old runner kept going with her 800 meter repeats, doing three more and walking each recovery, only adding a few more seconds to those 2 minutes rather than an extra 20 or so like she was tempted to do.  As she reached the end of the last repeat, her husban finally came downstairs to get ready for work and asked, "Honey?  Are you sure you're supposed to be running that fast?"  At that point many dirty looks were unleashed upon the hubbs by the old runner, causing the hubbs to run and hide in the bathroom.

Finally the old runner finished the last repeat and got off the treadmill to get ready.  While the old runner was completely stoked at having done those repeats at that speed, the resident animals expressed their opinions with their eyes.

Eyeball translation:  Can we get some breakfast now?!?

The old runner didn't let all the indifference and snide hubbs comments stop her from taking a completely stupid and blurry selfie afterwards and posting it on her blog.

And thus ends this graph's story.


And the morals of this really horrible story are:

• I couldn't think of anything actually creative to write about today, so this is what you get.  
• If I were to grade this like I used to for my students, it would get a "oh geez REWRITE THIS"
• It actually was a pretty good workout, even if I didn't listen to music to cover the sound of my 800 meter repeat-wheezing.
• The furnace conked out last night and the hubbs couldn't get the part he needed to fix it until today.  That pellet stove you see there is what is preventing the animals from becoming animalcicles today while we're at work.
• No, I am not comfortable leaving a fire burning in my house all day, even if it is contained in a small metal case.  But I had no choice.
• You know what's a good way to generate some heat for your house?  Do a speed workout on the treadmill.

Tomorrow's workout: More upper body goodness with more heavy weights!