Wicked stuff, this. I have a HM on the 10th; this week, during which I was going to put in some serious tempo work, is not only shot, but also leaving me in the red (Don't have my strength back and I'm still coughing....) I should be running again tomorrow. I was going to just take it easy next week, like a taper. But I really feel that I should put in some tempo work, early in the week. As much as I'd like to do a 1:30, I think that a 7:40 m/m BQ AG pace is more realistic. Sorry....inevitable bit of background: I'm 41. Post 40 5k PR: 19:36; 10k PR 42:11 (this was in a tri after an especially hilly 30 mile bike ride), and a 15:25 for a 2.5 miler. Lifetime PRs are a 4:42 mile, sub-17:00 XC 3 mile, 36:17 10k. I was 17 and then smoked for about 20 years. Cool! I recently bumped my miles to 40/week, after doing at least 20/week +100-150 miles biking for most of 06-07. I finally kicked the biking habit (though wearing the patch was tough ), and am aiming for a BQ@ Vermont City in May. So..what's up? And please, no Macmillan...just a plan for the next week. Walt.

Um, you have pneumonia and you're contemplating a HM a week from now?

Heh......it is a week and two days..... <>nervous smile, takes shoes off, puts the kettle back on, gets back on couch, tries not to feel stupid.......> ...checks runreg.com later....

Walt, I am in the same boat as you, not planning a HM next week but am trying to shake pneumonia. Finished my antibiotics on Sunday, have been at work all week but have only run once this week. I was told to ease back into things because you have to give your body the ability to recover. Training for a half and trying to cram in some tempo runs is going to put a lot of stress on you and your immune system. I am thinking you have bigger things ahead than this one race. Food for thought as I step off my soap box.

Has the pneumonia been diagnosed by a doctor. Is it bacterial or viral? If it really is pneumonia, the HM could kill you. Mark Heinemann died the day after an ultra which he ran with a "mild touch of pneumonia".

Well,.....that would decide it for me!!! Good luck Walt....and a speedy recovery Tim

Also, pneumonia is one of those things that often seems to be over, then makes a resurgence when you think you are recovered and overdo it. Please, take it seriously and heal up fully before you push yourself physically.

Okay, it sounds like you've made the smart decision to skip the HM, but I'll add my $0.02 on recovering from pneumonia. The doctor told me that I would feel better after 2-3 weeks, but would not feel 100% until six weeks after beginning antibiotics. I tried running after two weeks, but I did not feel ready for regular training until about the 4th week. The doctor was right that I didn't feel completely well until the 6th week. This is a big, bad infection. I was recovering from pneumonia in the Spring. Running in the cold will be an additional stress to your lungs. It will pay to be careful!

I am happy that you are reconsidering running the half so close to your pneumonia diagnosis. I made a huge mistake back in 2004. Diagnosed with pneumonia, took the zithromax, and rode a century bike ride two weeks later. I had to borrow an inhaler at the 50 miles mark I hit the wall at 80 miles. I finished the 100 miles, quite depleted. It took me months to feel better. My running suffered greatly. I began having asthma symptoms in 2006. Was officially diagnosed with asthma in Fall, 2007. I am unsure if the pneumonia had anything to do with the onset of the asthma but, I know I did myself no favors by undertaking a strenous event in the aftermath of my pneumonia. Good luck at the VCM! We ran that last year. Beautiful course! A couple nice hills... Lovely day.