Sick No More - Plan of Attack

I am so over getting sick every 5 weeks or so.

I did some soul searching today, trying to think of reasons as to why I get a cold more often than most people.  My findings:
1) I teach preschool.
2) I push myself hard running/lifting at least once a day.

My scientific conclusion is that I must NOT be taking the proper steps to take care of myself after exercising.  This causes my immune system to be lowered temporarily.  Throw me into a Pre-K classroom during cold season and I am ready to get sick. 

Browsing the internet, I made a game plan and a couple stops to help get myself healthy and staying that way.

1) I stopped at GNC and bought Glutamine and Zinc. Apparently, a lot of athletes take Glutamine to help them recover after a workout.  I think I need help with that.  Zinc I have taken before in college after hard workouts during the winter.  It helps your immune system, and I got it in a pill form to help get rid of my illness.

GNC Stop

Next, I stopped at Giant Eagle to get some Vitamin Water, cold medicine, and broccoli cheddar soup.  I am convinced that Vitamin water helps you kick a cold fast, or even prevent one when you start to feel under the weather.  I don't love buying them because they are not cheap, but I am starting to think they are worth it.  They even sell them in bulk at Sam's Club.

 

Took a little nap after taking my medicine and I feel pretty good right now.  I am sad that I have missed a few days of training, but I am trying to be positive and focus on getting better and staying better.  I am signed up for a race this Saturday, and my goal is to feel recovered enough to get a few runs in before Saturday and feel up to racing the 10miler as a good tempo run for my training.

Some other things I should probably do to avoid getting sick again:

Eat after running a hard workout.  I don't always want to eat, especially because I eat a protein bar before working out.  I am just not hungry.  I am probably going to start bringing chocolate milk for when I am done. 
Sleeping more - at least 7 hours a night!
Eat enough to stay fueled.
Any other ideas?  I need some convenient after-run snack ideas that do not involve bars or gels....

Mandatory cute corgi picture:

Baby Penny

PS: Check out the awesome book I am reading.  I am so glad to have a great book to read while I am sick!  Jodi Picoult is the best and her main character has Asperger's.  Very interetesting.

Read this book!

 

 

 

Fun But Germy Weekend

Friday night, I set my alarm fully planning on waking up and running an 18 mile workout with my running buddy Kate.  What I didn't plan on was falling asleep sitting upright at 8:15 that night and waking up sweating and chilled.  I thought it was too good to be true that I haven't yet caught the bug sweeping through my classroom and I was right.  Saturday morning I did not feel much better.  I met Kate at North Park and was disappointed to see I was very lightheaded and weak running, not to mention it kinda hurt to breathe.  I made the decision to only run 7.5 with her, and to try my long run Sunday if I felt any better.  It was disappointing NOT to do a long run with her because she is only home so often from  school and the time flies by when I am running with her!

The rest of the day I felt miserable.  I was so tired and had a hard time getting enough energy to do things around the house. 

Penny laying in bed with me

I picked myself out of the bed and Jordan and I picked up my two brothers to go down to the waterfront.  We ate at Uno's and I had a very good multigrain pizza with hummus, spinach, feta, and vegetables.  I was impressed this was on the menu!  The boys had the monsterously thick peperoni deep dish pizza.  I had a bite of Jordan's and it was so good but very filling.  We went over to Dave and Buster's and played some games.  I am a fan of the ski ball :).

Brothers eating a 6 inch tall pizza

Jordan and I

By the end of the night, I was pretty tired.  I felt okay out, but again, felt tired all night.  Sunday morning I made the decision to try and run, but I ruled out the 18miler.  I guess it's kind of ridiculous anyways, since I ran a 20 mile race last weekend.  I ended up running an 8 miler with my Dad and Penny.  I was glad I did since I feel miserable when I don't run, and didn't want to be cranky all day.

That night, I cooked Chicken Parmesan for my family.  I am quite proud of how it turned out; pounding the chicken before cooking it really made it better.  We had pasta, caesar salad, bread, and cheesecake with berries for dessert.  The coffee was good, too: chocolate cinnamon swirl. I wish I had ran 18 miles that morning, I would be able to fit more food in my belly.

Family Photo

Chicken Parm, Pasta, Caesar Salad

Cheesecake and Berries

Very tired after the festivities

Today, I made the sad deicison to take a day off from running.  Teaching at school today, I felt pretty lightheaded whenever I was standing and teaching, and felt letargic and run down in general.  I hate not meeting my mileage goal for the week, but I guess my training has been going well and I obviously am not kicking this cold while I continue to run.  I'm hoping tomorrow I wake up feeling great and I can run the rest of the week as follows:

Tuesday: Am lifting, PM 8 with Kate
Wed: 12 mile w/o
Thursday: AM Lift, 10 miles
Friday: Easy 6
Saturday: 10 mile March Mad Dash, 15 miles total
Sunday: 10 miles

56 miles total, which is actually what I should be running this week (80% of peak mileage)

Any advice on staying healthy while being able to hug my 18 little students?  I am thinking about taking Zinc or Airborne.