Hi there.
I am hoping some of you might venture opinions--while of course, only saying what I want to hear.
I am set to do the Lake Champlain 8-mile swim this Saturday. This past Sunday, I woke up feeling like I had smoked a pack of cigarettes--something that's been about 20 years since it's actually happened. It got progressively worse, with coughing.
By last night, I had a low grade fever--nothing more than 100.6 at it's height--but it's persistent. It may have been there Sunday and Monday but I was out of town so didn't take my temperature.
I'm coughing like mad--endlessly--but nothing "productive." Just hacking and tickling my throat.
I went to the doctor, and asked him for everything. At this point, I'm on antibiotics, lots of Vitamin C, some holistic medicine that was recommended, cough medicine with codeine, and tons of liquids. You name it, I'm throwing it at that! (I'm not usually a medicine taker but this time calls for desperate measures!)
My son had the same thing and three weeks in, there's been no fever for a week or so, but he's still coughing like mad. He's doing all his normal things, but the fever lasted for 6 days--equally low grade.
I'm hoping that by Saturday morning, I will feel significantly better, but in case, I wanted to hear about people who might have raced sick. (Anyone read Ultramarathon Man?) My husband and my coach are pretty certain that it would take a lot to have me decide not to do the race--and they're right.
Seven years ago, I raced an entire triathlon season, not knowing I had Whooping Cough. (They kept attributing everything to allergies and what they said was asthma.) When I was finally diagnosed, it made sense why the season had felt so hard!
Something about swimming when ill, and the way it regulates my breathing, has always made it easier than doing things like running or riding when sick. My coaches seem to think that swimming is the cure-all, and indeed, when I've had slight colds, I've often done a long swim and felt completely better. Maybe all that chlorinated water just washes everything out? :)
The Lake Champlain swim is the one I've waited for all season so I'm feeling pretty disheartened. Any ideas??
Thanks.
Syd
It sounds like you've got your mind made up as to what you're going to do and are looking for reassurance and confirmation. I can help with that: Go for it! Swimming always loosens up whatever's clogging up my lungs--perhaps it's the increased blood flow. It sounds like whatever you have is low-grade. If this was my A race for the season, the one I've been training for for months, I would only pull out if I was catastrophically sick (puking, racked with aches, can't breathe, etc.). You might make the illness worse or more prolonged by doing a long-distance race such as this, but who cares-- you'll already be done with the race. And, if you get going and just feel horrible, that's why your support boat is there. At least you will have tried, right?
I don't know who you are, but can I just tell you, I love you!! :)
It's true. I think what I needed was reassurance. I'm pretty much ready to feel like complete garbage afterward, just to be able to do this. And my support kayak is my husband so I know if I look really bad, he will not let me be stupid. He's incredibly supportive and it helps to have someone who recognizes my need to do this. (People who aren't crazy enough to do this in the first place are not really able to understand being willing to do it while sick.)
Last night I took Robitussin with Codeine, and actually had a great sleep. The fever seems to be better--and manageable with ibuprofen.
I swam about 2000 this morning, and that felt okay. Slow and easy. And I won't be doing much more until Saturday morning!
Thanks for the support!
Sydne
The Lake Champlain swim is the one I've waited for all season so I'm feeling pretty disheartened. Any ideas??
Thanks.
Syd
Just to follow up on this, despite being sick last week and some pretty tough conditions during the swim, Sydne completed the 8 miles across Lake Champlain on Saturday! I met her before the race and we chatted for a while both on the dock and on the boat over to the start. It was an incredible day and everyone at that swim (both swimmers and kayakers) should have a lot to feel proud of!
I had a blast, still struggling with sea sickness, but somehow managed to swim through it and celebrated with Sydne and Sister Golden Hair Katie at the finish line!
Julie
You are too sweet!
It was such a great day--from meeting all these terrific people, to completing something that was only a dream a few short years ago. I was so impressed with everyone--swimmers and support kayakers alike. What a day!
It's the reason I'm hooked on this whole swimming thing--nice folks doing something fun in a beautiful place. What could be better?
And of course, now I'm thinking 10-miler. Any suggestions?
