Immune System Fails

This has been a terrible week in my world of running. My full-blown cold has turned into bronchitis and a severe ear infection. I ran 3 or 4 days this week (that's how bad it it, I can't even remember) and all of my runs were at a very easy pace. Yesterday I went to the doctor, which was how I found out about the bronchitis and ear infection, and told her I had a race next week that I was training for. I am allowed to run, however I am not suppose to push it. In other words, its all easy runs this week (with the exception of the race), or at least until I start getting better.

I am still hoping to PR on Saturday, but I am not getting my hopes set too high.

Its ironic that we started studying the immune system this week in biology. Not only has my immune system gone on vacation, but I have been researching, evaluating and thinking a lot about nutrition. Stress, nutritional choices, bacteria or viral exposure and many more things affect your immune system. The decline in my immune system most likely stemmed from the stress of a family member dying, which led to improper nutrition, lack of appetite and sleep deprivation, further leading to low calorie intake while maintaining and even increasing my training, all of this allowing the bacteria I was exposed to take up residence in my body.

I have lately realized that I am not giving my body the proper nutrition not only for running, but just to function normally. I spent a few hours researching and evaluating nutrition, weight loss, eating dysfunctions, athletes, etc. I have set some goals for myself and am currently (starting today) making an effort to eat healthier, more quantities, more often, and at optimal times for energy and recovery during training.

In other news, I discovered that I can graduate with my bachelors in May 2013 and hopefully my masters two years after. I am very excited as I will probably be able to graduate a semester sooner than I have originally thought.

Well, off to go to Sam's Club and then for an easy run. So tired still...
Happy Running :)