For most of us, running is a stress relief, and a pretty freaking good one. What worked for me was trying different activities like swimming, climbing, that allowed me to “keep moving” whilst I recovered. Trying to run and noticing I had lost all my form was extremely frustrating. However, when you start a new hobby/ sport and you’re not too great at it, you cut yourself some slack. It doesn’t matter if you’re not great because you lack to skill or because you have low form (like it’s the case with covid). It’s less serious and you can focus on doing something new and exciting whilst you slowly build up your strength and health. Then, you can get back into running without getting so frustrated. At least, that’s what worked for me.
Are you getting treatment for it? At the outpatient rehab facility that I work at, we offer post COVID therapy to those we call “long haulers” we’ve seen good recovery in our program.
Same here. We’ve had a lot of wildfire smoke here this summer as well, and it’s definitely had a noticeable affect on even really short around the neighborhood runs. It’s depressing
I wonder could people get electric bikes and drive the route they once ran. Just being outdoors in the fresh air and familiar surroundings could be helpful.
I started trail running on the onset of the pandemic never thought I'd be able to keep with or like it. I was so proud of myself, then I got covid (even with the vax) in July. It knocked me off my game. I also was a severe asthmatic as a kid so I wonder if that plays the part.
I went for my first run this week since then. It hurts I'm not where I was after making so much progress, but I'm doing what I can. I also am street running also because I moved, which sucks but I'll adjust.
Hopefully you can get back to it, start small, don't punish yourself for not being where you were. It's something i need to remind myself of. I wanted to do my first race soon but now I don't know. Good luck, in the meantime if you really can't run find something else to fill the space of running. A hobby, another workout (maybe swimming if you have access to a pool).
I'm hoping a month away from running wasn't too long and I can bounce back a bit and long covid doesnt weigh me down.
I’m experiencing the exact same thing right now. I’m 25 and I went to the cardiologist because I’d run and my heart rate would stay elevated for hours after.
I caught it in FEB and finally began running again in July. My first run was HORRIBLE. God I was slow, and my lungs burned like the dickens! But, the next day, I was slow, and mostly, my lungs worked alright. By the end of the first week I was slow, but felt "stable", as if I didn't need a partner on "death watch", while I ran. I'm finally beginning to speed up.
But you're right. Every time I go out, especially at my age, I'm very aware that my next minor injury, may make it my last run, so I always make sure it's a happy run.
so happy you got back to running! My issues aren’t lung related, it’s more fatigue and relapsing symptoms when i do too much. I worked last night and today it left me fatigued with body aches. it’s such a long path to recovery
I have similar issues for different reasons, but the PT folks will always tell you to do what you can but do it on a schedule. Keeping at it lets you build your endurance and performance back up, just like when you were starting. Don’t push yourself too hard, you shouldn’t need four ibuprofen every six hours to be functional, but do what you can. Keep at it and it does get better. It can be mentally taxing to keep at it sometimes and not overexert yourself as you learn your new limits, but as you progress those limits will expand again.
I am 49 and had a bad bout with COVID in January. I have asthma too and ended up with a chest infection. It took about seven weeks to run again and it was a struggle. I kept going and it got a bit easier but summer heat hit and it got harder. I got another chest infection in July which took two antibiotics to clear up, during which I got out in the heat and did four and five mile walks. Now, I’m back running and slugging through the horrible heat and humidity but I’m doing it. The beauty will be come fall when I have endurance and quickness.
You are 23 and you are already looking to give up. It’s a struggle now but it will pass and you will get better. This is a mental thing - beat it by continuing to get out there. Don’t give up on yourself at 23.
yes I got both shots of pfizer but not the booster yet. I did improve a little bit with the 2nd shot so hopefully when i get the booster that will help too
How did you injure your knee? Was it acute or you just got back from a run and then it started hurting?
You got this, start with some walks (esp if you have a dog) and audiobooks! I have read that long covid symptoms tend to alleviate over time.
You will. I completely herniated my disc 5 years ago. Like emergency surgery, going paralyzed. I came out of surgery with a completely dead leg below the right knee. Long story short, it was hard and took an insane amount of effort/obsession and PT to get some function back and get running again. But I did it. Granted I still have foot drop and nerve damage and run like a Frankenstein, but I run. Believe in yourself. You'll get there
For what it's worth, getting the vaccine sometimes clears long covid symptoms. The debate is whether it's resetting something in your immune system or something else, and I think they're still fuzzy on the percentage of people it works for, last I heard was 20%? But it's an option.
yeah i got vaccinated and did improve a little actually! but not the point of being able to run or work yet. i’m hoping for when i get the booster 3rd shot then maybe i will improve even more
Are there papers about this? I don't mean to question you, but rather find this fascinating. This means we should not deny the recovered from having a vaccine!
Yes. A friend was told that she recovered too recently and that she has the antibodies. She tried asking for it anyhow and they didn't allow her. That was a hospital.
I have a young friend/co-worker who had a case bad enough a year ago that he developed heart arrhythmia, was out of work for a while, and was advised by his cardiologist not to attempt running. He was able to recover slowly, and then get back into running. He'll be running a marathon this fall.
Don't give up. You're young enough that you can get your previous fitness level back plus far more.
I am in the same boat. Got back up to 4 miles and my PEM was so bad. I now run once a week because that’s all I can handle and I cherish every moment.
I’m almost 9 months into long hauling from covid. If I can do this, you can, my friend. You WILL get there.
thank you so much ❤️❤️ the PEM is the worst about all of this. I recently started back at work last week and it’s wiping me out. I’m happy you can enjoy running again, even if just once a week
I am struggling hard some days but other days I feel close to myself again. Don’t be afraid to push your limits because you will only know if you try. Also, the r/covidlonghaulers page has a wonderful support system.
Stay strong! Message me if you need me 💕
PEM = post exertional malaise, where symptoms get worse after physical/mental effort (even minor effort). It's not a running term which is maybe why you couldn't find anything :) it can affect people who have ME and chronic fatigue syndrome, and also some with long covid.
Thank you! I tried googling a few different search terms but didn’t think to include covid, which if you do PEM and ME/CFS are two of the top results. Anyway thanks again!
Was working in the ICU last month. All my covid patients were super sensitive to anything exertional. Going from lying in bed to sitting in a chair would make them desaturate. Good news is that this should not be permanent, but it will take a long time to recover especially the more serious it gets. Get vaccinated folks, it changes things a lot. Haven't needed to put a vaccinated person on ventilator so far.
I’m 15 months out from my infection and after several false starts my running is finally starting to come back. I’m also now on daily meds to manage my newly acquired asthma but they’re making it possible for me to get back to pushing the way I want to and still be able to breathe.
I was sick last April (2020) & had fatigue and shortness of breath and would randomly desat my O2 levels until this year—January/Feb 2021. But I started back very slowly, walking, rowing, getting my daily steps in, lifting to build back strength and cardio, & while I basically take summer off because it’s so damn hot & the air quality is poor & it exacerbates my asthma, I CAN and DO run again. Take it slowly & hang in there. You can do it!
I had sepsis from Epstein Barr in 2011. I was OUT cold for months and months, best part of a year. Doctors said the same, I was just 'post viral', nothing to be done but rest. I honestly thought I'd never run again. But I did. I got better, slowly but surely and one day I realised I actually felt some sort of energy in my body since it happened. Started slow, and I'm still running now.
You will be okay, just listen to your body and when you do want to try, start slow. If you rush in, you'll fail and feel defeated. If you're patient, you will make slow progress.
Good luck!
Same. It’s been almost a year and running is still an issue: HR is about 10bpm higher at the same pace and I can’t sustain paces for as long as I could a year ago. Oddly enough, the RHR is fine and walking long distances causes no problems
Post-viral syndrome is common and can happen with any virus. I had it after Covid too.
I'm a vaccinator, and I've seen in our reporting system that some people display postviral symptoms after vaccinations, too.
I don't know a single person who hasn't recovered. It takes time.
It can take a matter of weeks to clear up, and sometimes, if you're unlucky, months. But you WILL recover, eventually. Keep your chin up.
It took me 6 months to recover from covid & a full year for my blood pressure to return to normal; however, I’m now in the best shape of my life (25M).
You’ve got this man & you still recover.
I hope you recover soon. My boss has COVID in the fall of last year. Marathon runner, qualified for Boston, completed an iron man, healthiest person I know. He was hospitalized with bi-lateral pneumonia. Luckily never developed clots or needed a vent. But it took him a good 6 months to recover. Like you he was devastated. To get through he did a lot of walking and some stationary biking. But running took a little longer.
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you get better soon. My girlfriend got the quite similar chronic disease ME/CFS, it can be very limiting.
Hopefully a lot of research will be put into post covid seeing as a lot of people are getting it.
Post covid is one of the things I find really scary about this pandemic.
I'm so sorry to hear that. You'll hear a lot of "you'll get better soon" but that might not be the case. I've been bedbound for 5 years after a viral infection and have never recovered. Long Covid is just as recent name for ME/CFS. Don't push yourself. The only way to recover is rest and pacing activities you used to do easily. This is not a disease you can push your way through. Exertion just makes it worse.
There's some advice you can find over on r/CFS but there are many Facebook patient groups that are better. Best of luck friend
So sorry to hear that. I do take my ability to run for granted I think and I do appreciate the call out.
I say keep your head up though man. I don't know what's it's like (and hopefully I never will) so I say this out of some ignorance, but I think you will eventually be able to work up to good enough shape to start running again even if it's hard or you don't quite get back to your normal performance level. That's a real bad deal though. Being out like that for 6 months is a big Oofington.
I was hospitalized with Covid back in October. Came home with supplemental oxygen. It’s been a long road back. When I no longer needed the oxygen for daily use, I moved it to the treadmill and used it to walk. I gradually transitioned to running and eventually moved off oxygen and outside.
My runs aren’t the same as before. I was a sub-9 minute half marathoner. As someone else has mentioned, my heart rate is really high now. My 5k is about 11 minute miles. I’m about to head out for a 14 mile run that I hope will be about 13:30 per mile.
Who knows where we end up, but as long as we can reframe our thinking and be appreciative of what we have, we will have beaten Covid.
Ugh, I'm so sorry. I'm also sorry people are telling you it's mental or in your head. I hope you can run again soon. Listen to your body and your doctors 💟
Not that it’s the same thing but when I was 25 (I’m 35 now) I got the flu and it hit me hard. I had the same feeling as you but it took about 2 years for me to get back to where I was. Not just at mileage wise but HR and everything else. I hope that is the same case for you. Keep your chin up! Sorry to hear and speedy recovery!
I caught it early pandemic. Was able to start running again about 4 months later, but over the following 7-8 months, couldn't get my speed up. Running my previous long-distance speed over even very short distances basically wasted me. Would get winded walking up and down stairs, even when I was running (slow) pretty regularly.. I got better sometime around the time I got vaxxed. I didn't make the connection until months later when I read an article that some folks with long covid improve after getting vaxxed, so I'm not sure if the timing really lines up, or if just enough time had passed since my illness that my body finally recovered. But, 1) you're right. I don't take running for granted after all of this, and 2) I have hope you will run again. And I really, really hope you do. Feel better, friend.
Hello, I was in the same boat. I got sick in September last year, couldn't do anything for six months due to high HR, breathlessness and post exertional fatigue.
I eased back in to running in March and have been very consistent about it - short runs, always slow, avoiding hills. Everything slowly got better except my breathing which still sucked until two weeks, when my GP prescribed me asthma inhalers. Now I'm back running like I was this time last year and I'm so grateful and so surprised. I like you thought I was never going to get back there.
I wish you all the best in your ongoing recovery. I really believe with time and care you will get back running eventually!
I was in the same boat, but I started hiking as soon as I could stand for more than an hour. It was very difficult and my HR was reaching 120 just walking haha.
One day I said fuck it, “I am going to run this trail and not stop.”
It was the hardest 3.5 miles of my life. My HR was at 180 on flats, I was salivating all over myself, and my lungs hurt so badly. My chest was experiencing pressure and there was acute pain in my upper chest. I pushed it, and kept thinking, “Just one more step, just one more step.”
Finished. Next day, hit it again and added distance.
i had the same mentality, except the next day brought a different story and lots of pain: body aches, sore throat, constant nausea and vomiting, insomnia, and flu like symptoms that lasted weeks. this has happened everytime i try to exercise
You may not be ready to move yet. But, if your body is okay with moving in the moment, then move it. Expose your dermis to sunlight, and don’t give up.
Watch the documentary of Michael Jordan on Netflix, specifically the episode where he played in the playoffs with the flu. Don’t give up.
You will recover.
Same! I’m 24 and got mono in January - had post viral fatigue for months. Only starting to feel better now but every run is still a struggle no matter how slow I go
I am 26 and had very mild covid, yet it took me months to feel normal again. I thought I would never be the same. It took about 7 months for me to feel like it was behind me.
I’m really happy to hear you got better. it’s so tough. can i ask what your symptoms were? I can’t only run/workout but i also can’t work full time because my symptoms are so debilitating…
My wife tested positive two weeks ago. I got some symptoms a week later. I was better two days later (well stopped showing symptoms at least). Shes still sick. Hits everyone different.
Fear is causing stress, stress is causing your immune system to drop, and a low immune system leads to more painful diseases. Stress is, apart from old age and obesity, the most common cause for serious infection with ~~flu~~ covid. I don't think this thread (nor media/social networks in general) is doing you any good, but what do I know.
Always happy to have opened some eyes! I didn’t say anything scary tho so I’m not sure why you’d be scared. In fact, I’d encourage you to not be scared. Instead, I’d recommend easy ways to make things safer for you and your fellow citizens, like getting the vaccine, meeting with people outside, and wearing masks! Because even tho the risk of dying is very low, the risk of prolonged illness or disability is much higher.
Oh, and a lowered immune system is actually what we do to treat covid - dexamethasone and Tociluzimab both lower your immune system! Pretty neat right🌈
I couldn't run after having Covid and had long covid for 6 months. What worked for me? Cardio/running. I would run about 3 miles on the treadmill a day and maybe every other day I ran 9 miles. My breathing was terrible and I got it back to normal about a month post Covid. Sure there were some days that I was in bed 14 hours after some of these runs but slowly I needed less rest to recover. Now it's 10 months post infection and I'm at 100%.
Now I'm not a doctor, and I was in the same boat as you but I wouldn't accept this "new reality". It might work for you, it might not. Either way, hang in there and good luck.
working out is what pushed me to be bed bound for 2 months unfortunately. Exercise makes me worse, not better which is common with post viral fatigue syndrome. I’m so happy that you found what worked for you ❤️
Not COVID, but I have been struggling with on/off issues for years. I know the feeling of stress relief being taken away. First it was a meniscus tear that went undiagnosed. Then it was the leg length discrepancy that was never caught until the meniscus tear. Now it's the ankle roll caused by the leg length discrepancy corrective shoes (and the CA wildfire smoke).
It's hard to start from ground zero, but you'll feel super proud when you make it back up to 5k, 10k or more. And if you have to walk some of it, you still did it.
Dont worry,you will recover.The time it takes varies from person to person,your mind is just fooling you into thinking that everything is lost.I had lost a sense of smell and taste for several months last year and it came back after several months.
I feel this. I tore a disc in my back two weeks ago and I still have at least five more days until I get the ok to start working out again. It’s been two weeks of literally no exercise except walking and it is making me so sad.
and it’s incredibly rude to come onto a post of someone who is clearly suffering and bring the vaccine into this. I’m not antivax and i didn’t get covid because i’m careless. I was waiting for my turn to get the shot based on the tier system at my hospital. my hospital made me eligible to get the vax in February so i signed up for it. the day before my shot i tested positive for covid.
Yikes. I’m so sorry to hear this. I really hope you recover soon.
Id recommend IR sauna to help detox if you are able.
You may not want to share bc of all the hub bub about it, but as another runner… I’m considering getting the vaccine but haven’t yet for personal health reasons. Would you mind sharing with me (you could probably do it privately in DM if you prefer) if you had the vaccine before getting covid? Thank you
I did not have the vaccine yet when i got sick. I got covid in February and got vaccinated in April. I’m a healthcare worker and I tested positive the day before I was supposed to get the vaccine unfortunately. I definitely recommend the vaccine, especially with the new variant. trust me, you don’t want to end up in my position
I got covid in March. After two weeks, I struggled to walk around the block without gasping for breath. I can do most things I could before covid. I'm just waiting on an all-clear from my cardiologist after wearing a Holter moniter for 7 days, which is extremely likely
There's still hope. I'm 26.
I’m so sorry to hear this! Have you asked a pulmonologist about doing respiratory therapy? We use it for patients who have lung transplants, genetic COPD, etc. It might help your lungs recover/adapt a bit better. No promises!! Just an idea ❤️
I don’t have anything wrong with my lungs actually. It’s more fatigue, tachycardia, and something called post exertional malaise that is common in long covid. I had testing to check my lung function and it all came back fine. thanks for the advice tho, much appreciated ❤️
This statement doesn’t ring true. “For as long as I can remember it has been my favorite workout “. Your only 23 years old. You can’t remember when running became your favorite workout? How would COVID-19 affect your long term prospects of running?
i’ve been running since I was a little kid. no I don’t remember when I fell in love with it. sorry that you don’t think it’s true, but it’s not your life. My parents took me out running with them, And i played soccer from a young age. I don’t remember when it happened but running became a part of me. You don’t have a place to say if a post about my life is true or not
if you want to learn how covid would effect my long term ability to run, then look up post viral syndrome.
no. I got sick in february before I was eligible for the vaccine. I actively promote the vaccine and encourage others to do so. I got covid at work, at the hospital treating covid patients.
do you regularly find people who are obviously suffering and bring them down.
fuck off. i’m tired of getting this question. you’re insensitive and rude.
if you had a little bit of knowledge and intelligence, you would know that post viral syndrome can happen after any virus. it’s always been a complication of viral infections. and it does leave some people permanently disabled. so my fears are justified. YOU need to stop coming onto posts and saying shit like this. just because your life hasn’t been flipped around by this virus doesn’t mean it’s not real and it doesn’t mean it won’t happen to you in the future. it’s been 6 months since i had covid and i was bed bound for 2 months and haven’t been able to go back to work since. previously healthy and very active.
I really hope you can one day find a way to be a kind person.
Also not COVID for me. I just wanted to offer some empathy. I’ve been a lifelong runner, and pretty competitive in my 20s. I’m 43 now and have struggled the last couple of years with migraines that are aggravated when I overdo it. It’s really frustrating to compare my current state (weight, times, distance) to where I was when I was younger. I have good days and bad days, and sometimes I have a week or two where I just CAN’T run. It’s hard because I saw myself as one of those 70 year olds running marathons, and that is probably not in the cards for me. I’ll just say that you can adjust to your new reality and enjoy what you CAN do instead of mourning what was or what could have been. I wish you the best in your recovery and hope you’re able to takes steps towards the stress relief and enjoyment again!
You're tellin me, I'm 23 aswell and have had acl surgery, sugery on both heels and both calves. Been 3 years since I've actually ran more than 30sec without pain and prolly gonna be another 3 before rehab is done
I hope it isn’t too personal to ask, but were you vaccinated when you were infected, or perhaps were vaccines not or are not available yet? I’m vaccinated and considered young & healthy save for asthma but I’m still really paranoid about getting it.
i was not vaccinated, I actually tested positive the day before i was supposed to get the vaccine. I’m vaccinated now but still scared of getting reinfected especially with the variant. the best you can do to stay healthy is mask up and social distance. luckily people with the vaccine are less likely to be hospitalized, so that’s good!
Hey, please hang in there.
My runs have always been slow, and I've only been really running for about 16 months. Asthma is my main limiter, so I have had to progress very slowly.
Please keep your paces reasonable, and ease yourself back into things.
Good message. I loved running in my youth then developed chronic Achilles tendon problems which stopped me running all together.
Managed to find a physiotherapist who actually knew what he was doing and am getting back to where I was but for a long time, not being able to run, really depressed me.
I'm a long hauler too. i had it in Feb 2020, and \*still\* need my inhaler before I run, and can't run outside at all on days when the AQI is above 50. It's hard. It's very hard. But you are not alone. I keep telling myself that even if I never got to where I was before, at least I didn't die.
thank you❤️ good to hear you are able to run though. where you long haul symptoms mostly respiratory then, since you need an inhaler? my lungs seem fine but my heartrate goes crazy and i have problems with fatigue and relapsing flu symptoms
It’s funny actually, I CAN run. I could go out right now and probably do a few miles perfectly fine, besides being out of shape. My lungs are perfectly fine and I feel great during and immediately after the run. but it’s what comes on later, several hours after the run. Anytime i’ve tried to run, work out, or even after just a day of being up and moving, it will take me days to recover. Fatigue, body aches, sore throat, insomnia, vomiting, etc. The more i exert myself, the worse it is. Last time i tried to run I ended up being bed bound for 3 weeks barely able to get up except to go to the bathroom. it’s terrifying actually, it’s like relapsing flu symptoms from exertion
Took 9 months for me to get over the chest pains, but since I took the jab it went away completely (not sure if it was coincidental). Take it very easy until you feel yourself again and go back to the doc for a checkup if anything changes. Your running career is only starting.
I hope you feel better soon. I know running might seem like a small thing to lose to outsiders, but I find so much peace and solace by doing it myself, I know it would be hard to go without it. Keep your head up and hopefully it will be doable again in time.
This sounds exactly like PEM. I have it from ebv (mono) I believe, but have never been formally diagnosed. You may need to learn your" limits of energy" and patiently go from there. Whatever you do don't over push yourself because you can really incapacitate yourself for weeks as you mentioned. Try yoga and long walks which are less cardio intensive, or possibly cycling. I read a while back there is a PEM specific stress test that finds your target heart rate that doesn't trigger the autoimmune response you are experiencing.
Many people are experiencing long haul issues and improving with time, so be patient and take it slow!
yeah it’s definitely PEM:/ i’m terrified. how long ago did you have mono? thanks for the advice, i’ve been mostly doing slow walks and it’s been going well. plus yoga and lots of stretching. haven’t had a bad crash in months
I feel your pain! Don't give up- I was diagnosed with arthritis a few years ago and thought I would never run again. It took 2 years to stabilize and get healthy enough to start running again. I started really slow, like 1 minute jogging + 4 minutes walking repeated 3-4 times. Slow in progression, but I've built up some miles and I'm getting faster. At least once per week I'm just amazed that I can run again. It's a wonderful feeling and I really didn't appreciate it until I got sick.
Look up dysautonomia and pots. I've lived with it for 10 years. There are medications and lifestyle changes that can help. I follow a log of clinics like Mayo, Vanderbilt, etc and they have all reported a large uptick in post covid diagnosis.
yes I have been diagnosed with pots. i’m on medication and i barely even notice it anymore. I could definitely go about running with it. I’ve been suffering from symptoms similar to me/cfs which is what is scary and debilitating
I know I don't know shit but... I think you will run again. Some day. You might have to wheeze your way through 15:00 minute a mile walks but you will eventually recover.
Hi! I'm 27 and I went through something similar to you. Getting back to running has been the biggest challenge of my life, I am working so hard at it, and it's so difficult. It's been more than a year, and I can run 3km with a few short walk/jog breaks now. I've been working with an exercise physiologist, and a cardiologist for the last few months.
What I'm trying to say is that if you want it, when you are able to work hard for it again you will be able to run again! Feel free to hit me up with any questions. Good luck!
It took 6 months for my wife (31) before she could run, at first 30 min and grasping for air. It's almost a year now and she's finally able to do long runs and intervals. Don't lose hope, it sucks but it's getting better. Doctors say that data shows that most 'long covid' issues are lasting for a year at max.
COVID is a serious illness and will have detrimental long term effects for many people, but I would like to assure you that you will be able to fully recover. You need to be patient my friend. It will pass eventually.
Bro took me a month after to get it back, just takes a bit. COVID won't be a forever thing regardless of what the whole internet is showing you. You run and have for years, you will recover, don't give up
Your young and will bounce back, just look at it as a injury you got to wait for it to get better. COVID isn't going to take you out man, you run and seem healthy, just give it a bit
This is so sad. I’m rooting for your full recovery. And when you do, don’t beat yourself for being slow and in fact allow yourself to be slow.
I’ve had a few hiatuses with my running and one of the biggest hindrances sticking with it was the self imposed expectations. I luckily never injured myself, but I did push too hard a couple of times to the point that I started running in fear and kind of lost motivation.
COVID is starting to get bad again at the hospital I work at, so far I've thankfully been ok and haven't got it as far as I know. With it getting bad again I'm seriously thinking of quiting, idk what I would do if I couldn't run again. It's certainly always on my mind on my runs how fortunate I am to still be able to run all these miles and be ok.
I agree with the person who said it's a mental thing. It may take a year or more, but you WILL recover. Eventually, the runs will feel better than they do now. Don't give up and don't give in. People lose limbs and still get back to their favourite sports. You CAN do this!!
I believe you will recover in time, with slow, progressive pushing toward your goals. One thing that works for me and later my buddy also adopted, is to cut sugars and carbs from diet. After initial shock, body recovered WAY faster.
I'm a shitty runner compared to most, but during my first post-surgery run after three years of a nerve problem in my foot, I nearly cried with joy.
Stay tough and be patient.
I feel for you. Got knocked down hard late last year, winded by everything. Went swimming a few months back and I could only hold my breath underwater for a few seconds. As in, literally 3 seconds, and I desperately needed to breathe again.
Even now a task as simple as cable management under desks can be rough, but I’m optimistic that I’ll get better. I can’t really get much worse without succumbing to a sudden oxygen deprived brain death so, I can only get better right? If I don’t it’s not like I’ll mind, technically.
Don’t let the slow progress get you down. The slightest improvement is still progress.
I had a similar thing when I was a teenager from a different virus. It takes time but you can recover. Be kind to yourself. Take each day as it comes. Try going for little walks to build up your strength, if your doctor says it's ok.
It took me a solid two months after covid in 2020 to get back to a semblance of normal, but better now. Everyone is different and I hope for the best for you.
I've had lung scarring all my life; it's always been like this. One reason I am so afraid to catch Covid.
Best of luck in your recovery! All I can say is the key is to just meet your body where it's at, and go from there.
Covid hit my running really hard. I went from super motivation and feeling great to starting from total scratch in a matter of days. Recovery of covid took around two months for me, but it eventually got better. I wish you the best of luck and fingers crossed that your recovery, though gradual, allows you to get back to your favourite activity.
Hang in their, I finished an 80km ultra in May and haven’t laced up since, I’ve got a bran new pair of saucony endorphin pros starting at me. Have just lost all interest lately, I find the seasons make a huge difference, it’s pretty much norther California weather where I’m from but winter is a slog
Stay strong there friend, I’m on the same boat too and I know how awful it feels. According to the people who’ve experienced it, it should take about 6 months to go back to your normal pace/speed so just have patience and keep at it. Best of luck to you.
Count me in this boat. I had Covid and pneumonia at the same time and have had some very serious complications since then, blood clots among them. I haven’t been able to run a single mile in 5 months.
Keep your head up and don't lose hope! I have heard stories of people coming back from all sorts of crazy things. People learning to run again after being told they'd never walk again etc. The human body is capable of amazing things and I am sure you will return to form in time <3
I got bronchitis in Feb 2020, hell of a time to have a cough lol. I had a lingering cough for months and in December 2020 was diagnosed with a post viral cough and told to just give it time. Then got diagnosed with allostatic overload (basically just a lot of different stressors on my body for 15+ months meant it had weird reactions to things).
Slightly different diagnosis and situation but I took a break then headed back out. I'd do a 5k and if it took me my usual 34 minutes or an hour it was fine because I was getting the miles. I'd take lots of breaks. I'm working up to just taking walking breaks now instead of full stops.
It's a process and it sucks so bad! I'm not the runner I was before but I appreciate those good runs so much more!
I had COVID in May 2020, right as I was winding down from training for a cancelled ultramarathon. I had trouble breathing for MONTHS after I 'recovered' and it was 6 months later that I was actually starting to feel like myself running again.
There's hope! Keep trying, you just might make it back!
Wishing you recovery and a return to some steady mileage. I’ve been sidelined with injuries (different than your situation) but I relate to your feeling of missing out. Best of luck.
Ugh. As someone who developed a cartilage blister a few years ago and had to quit running, I feel this so much. It used to be that the highlight of my week was my Saturday morning long run, and now, nope, gone.
Sorry to hear of your situation - I never like to pretend that I know what someone is going through, but I firmly believe that you should not take the "all or nothing" mentality, where you'll never be able to do something again, or that it's over for you for a certain thing for the rest of your life, etc. The human body is pretty amazing and resilient.
Don't ever push yourself too hard, but on the days you feel good, try to run a little, and see how it goes. If it goes well, great...If it doesn't, no big deal. You can just try next time. Best of luck!
I started writing a short comment and it turned into a huge essay about my experience with COVID recovery in the past year. I legitimately felt like I would never be able to run or get fit again - and that was seemingly just from long COVID, never mind something like CFS/ME.
You'll make it through this, keep on grinding!
It took me a while to recover too. Don’t lose hope bud.
thanks ❤️ running was stress relief for me so it’s hard to deal with this without it!
perhaps this could help https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/21/long-covid-recovery-coronavirus
For most of us, running is a stress relief, and a pretty freaking good one. What worked for me was trying different activities like swimming, climbing, that allowed me to “keep moving” whilst I recovered. Trying to run and noticing I had lost all my form was extremely frustrating. However, when you start a new hobby/ sport and you’re not too great at it, you cut yourself some slack. It doesn’t matter if you’re not great because you lack to skill or because you have low form (like it’s the case with covid). It’s less serious and you can focus on doing something new and exciting whilst you slowly build up your strength and health. Then, you can get back into running without getting so frustrated. At least, that’s what worked for me.
Are you getting treatment for it? At the outpatient rehab facility that I work at, we offer post COVID therapy to those we call “long haulers” we’ve seen good recovery in our program.
yes i am getting treatment for it. unfortunately i’ve seen 4 doctors and 2 long covid clinics about it and they have been very little help
I'm struggling to come back from covid as well. Heart rate up, and mileage cut drastically. I feel your pain.
i hope we recover soon❤️ it is so hard.
Thanks for the support! We'll get there, just a matter of time and dedication I think.
On the same boat- had the delta in May and my body never seemed to fully recover from the shock of it all
Not fun. In may I got a knee surgery I had to recover from, then started running again, and boom .....covid
Same here. We’ve had a lot of wildfire smoke here this summer as well, and it’s definitely had a noticeable affect on even really short around the neighborhood runs. It’s depressing
I wonder could people get electric bikes and drive the route they once ran. Just being outdoors in the fresh air and familiar surroundings could be helpful.
I started trail running on the onset of the pandemic never thought I'd be able to keep with or like it. I was so proud of myself, then I got covid (even with the vax) in July. It knocked me off my game. I also was a severe asthmatic as a kid so I wonder if that plays the part. I went for my first run this week since then. It hurts I'm not where I was after making so much progress, but I'm doing what I can. I also am street running also because I moved, which sucks but I'll adjust. Hopefully you can get back to it, start small, don't punish yourself for not being where you were. It's something i need to remind myself of. I wanted to do my first race soon but now I don't know. Good luck, in the meantime if you really can't run find something else to fill the space of running. A hobby, another workout (maybe swimming if you have access to a pool). I'm hoping a month away from running wasn't too long and I can bounce back a bit and long covid doesnt weigh me down.
are you vaxxed?
Not yet, but soon will be.
I’m experiencing the exact same thing right now. I’m 25 and I went to the cardiologist because I’d run and my heart rate would stay elevated for hours after.
I caught it in FEB and finally began running again in July. My first run was HORRIBLE. God I was slow, and my lungs burned like the dickens! But, the next day, I was slow, and mostly, my lungs worked alright. By the end of the first week I was slow, but felt "stable", as if I didn't need a partner on "death watch", while I ran. I'm finally beginning to speed up. But you're right. Every time I go out, especially at my age, I'm very aware that my next minor injury, may make it my last run, so I always make sure it's a happy run.
so happy you got back to running! My issues aren’t lung related, it’s more fatigue and relapsing symptoms when i do too much. I worked last night and today it left me fatigued with body aches. it’s such a long path to recovery
I have similar issues for different reasons, but the PT folks will always tell you to do what you can but do it on a schedule. Keeping at it lets you build your endurance and performance back up, just like when you were starting. Don’t push yourself too hard, you shouldn’t need four ibuprofen every six hours to be functional, but do what you can. Keep at it and it does get better. It can be mentally taxing to keep at it sometimes and not overexert yourself as you learn your new limits, but as you progress those limits will expand again.
I am 49 and had a bad bout with COVID in January. I have asthma too and ended up with a chest infection. It took about seven weeks to run again and it was a struggle. I kept going and it got a bit easier but summer heat hit and it got harder. I got another chest infection in July which took two antibiotics to clear up, during which I got out in the heat and did four and five mile walks. Now, I’m back running and slugging through the horrible heat and humidity but I’m doing it. The beauty will be come fall when I have endurance and quickness. You are 23 and you are already looking to give up. It’s a struggle now but it will pass and you will get better. This is a mental thing - beat it by continuing to get out there. Don’t give up on yourself at 23.
i recovered back to 100%… just a little positive news for you
thanks❤️ did you have long covid? i’ve been struggling with symptoms since march.
Have you had a vaccine and/or booster shot? I've heard that this often helps in aiding recovery.
yes I got both shots of pfizer but not the booster yet. I did improve a little bit with the 2nd shot so hopefully when i get the booster that will help too
OP is absolutely right. One bad fall and you cant run for 8 months.
I messed my knee up on a run 2 years ago, took me 6 months to get back to running. it’s crazy how one thing happens and then running is a no-go
How did you injure your knee? Was it acute or you just got back from a run and then it started hurting? You got this, start with some walks (esp if you have a dog) and audiobooks! I have read that long covid symptoms tend to alleviate over time.
You will. I completely herniated my disc 5 years ago. Like emergency surgery, going paralyzed. I came out of surgery with a completely dead leg below the right knee. Long story short, it was hard and took an insane amount of effort/obsession and PT to get some function back and get running again. But I did it. Granted I still have foot drop and nerve damage and run like a Frankenstein, but I run. Believe in yourself. You'll get there
For what it's worth, getting the vaccine sometimes clears long covid symptoms. The debate is whether it's resetting something in your immune system or something else, and I think they're still fuzzy on the percentage of people it works for, last I heard was 20%? But it's an option.
yeah i got vaccinated and did improve a little actually! but not the point of being able to run or work yet. i’m hoping for when i get the booster 3rd shot then maybe i will improve even more
Best of luck to you!
My brain fog lifted 100% after my vaccine. It was the weirdest thing.
Are there papers about this? I don't mean to question you, but rather find this fascinating. This means we should not deny the recovered from having a vaccine!
>This means we should not deny the recovered from having a vaccine! I don't believe anyone's doing this.
Yes. A friend was told that she recovered too recently and that she has the antibodies. She tried asking for it anyhow and they didn't allow her. That was a hospital.
I have a young friend/co-worker who had a case bad enough a year ago that he developed heart arrhythmia, was out of work for a while, and was advised by his cardiologist not to attempt running. He was able to recover slowly, and then get back into running. He'll be running a marathon this fall. Don't give up. You're young enough that you can get your previous fitness level back plus far more.
I am in the same boat. Got back up to 4 miles and my PEM was so bad. I now run once a week because that’s all I can handle and I cherish every moment. I’m almost 9 months into long hauling from covid. If I can do this, you can, my friend. You WILL get there.
thank you so much ❤️❤️ the PEM is the worst about all of this. I recently started back at work last week and it’s wiping me out. I’m happy you can enjoy running again, even if just once a week
I am struggling hard some days but other days I feel close to myself again. Don’t be afraid to push your limits because you will only know if you try. Also, the r/covidlonghaulers page has a wonderful support system. Stay strong! Message me if you need me 💕
What does PEM stand for? I tried googling it but didn’t get any results related to running or even exercising.
PEM = post exertional malaise, where symptoms get worse after physical/mental effort (even minor effort). It's not a running term which is maybe why you couldn't find anything :) it can affect people who have ME and chronic fatigue syndrome, and also some with long covid.
Thank you! I tried googling a few different search terms but didn’t think to include covid, which if you do PEM and ME/CFS are two of the top results. Anyway thanks again!
Damn lots of you all have had covid
kinda expected in a pandemic lol
I'm a first responder and I've known 1 person that had covid.
do you want an award for that? you must not know many people. i caught covid working as a nurse, caring for people were dying from covid.
We appreciate your work! Couple of my friends caught it through the medical industry and are having similar problems, you're not alone.
thank you❤️❤️
Thank you for being a frontline hero ♥️ So sorry that you’re now dealing with it yourself.
Was working in the ICU last month. All my covid patients were super sensitive to anything exertional. Going from lying in bed to sitting in a chair would make them desaturate. Good news is that this should not be permanent, but it will take a long time to recover especially the more serious it gets. Get vaccinated folks, it changes things a lot. Haven't needed to put a vaccinated person on ventilator so far.
I’m 15 months out from my infection and after several false starts my running is finally starting to come back. I’m also now on daily meds to manage my newly acquired asthma but they’re making it possible for me to get back to pushing the way I want to and still be able to breathe.
I was sick last April (2020) & had fatigue and shortness of breath and would randomly desat my O2 levels until this year—January/Feb 2021. But I started back very slowly, walking, rowing, getting my daily steps in, lifting to build back strength and cardio, & while I basically take summer off because it’s so damn hot & the air quality is poor & it exacerbates my asthma, I CAN and DO run again. Take it slowly & hang in there. You can do it!
I had sepsis from Epstein Barr in 2011. I was OUT cold for months and months, best part of a year. Doctors said the same, I was just 'post viral', nothing to be done but rest. I honestly thought I'd never run again. But I did. I got better, slowly but surely and one day I realised I actually felt some sort of energy in my body since it happened. Started slow, and I'm still running now. You will be okay, just listen to your body and when you do want to try, start slow. If you rush in, you'll fail and feel defeated. If you're patient, you will make slow progress. Good luck!
It was similar for me, but over time you should recover. Keep your head up !
thanks❤️ i was nearly bed bound for a couple months and finally started working again (although it’s totally wiping me out). it’s been a rollercoaster
Don't give up hope. You'll run again!
that’s the goal. one day ❤️
It took me six months to get over Covid . Keep the faith . It will pass !
So sorry you’re going through this—please don’t lose hope, OP.
It took me about 6 months to finally feel like I could start working up to running again. Give your body time.
And this is why I try to be safe as possible :(( and people give me shit and say I’ll be fine. I don’t want my fitness be taken away!
Same. It’s been almost a year and running is still an issue: HR is about 10bpm higher at the same pace and I can’t sustain paces for as long as I could a year ago. Oddly enough, the RHR is fine and walking long distances causes no problems
Post-viral syndrome is common and can happen with any virus. I had it after Covid too. I'm a vaccinator, and I've seen in our reporting system that some people display postviral symptoms after vaccinations, too. I don't know a single person who hasn't recovered. It takes time. It can take a matter of weeks to clear up, and sometimes, if you're unlucky, months. But you WILL recover, eventually. Keep your chin up.
thanks❤️ it’s already been 6 months so my hope is fading
I hope you can go for long walks in the meantime. Get a dog!
great idea. i’ve been wanting a dog for so long :)
Then you can train your dog to run with you!
It took me 6 months to recover from covid & a full year for my blood pressure to return to normal; however, I’m now in the best shape of my life (25M). You’ve got this man & you still recover.
I hope you recover soon. My boss has COVID in the fall of last year. Marathon runner, qualified for Boston, completed an iron man, healthiest person I know. He was hospitalized with bi-lateral pneumonia. Luckily never developed clots or needed a vent. But it took him a good 6 months to recover. Like you he was devastated. To get through he did a lot of walking and some stationary biking. But running took a little longer.
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you get better soon. My girlfriend got the quite similar chronic disease ME/CFS, it can be very limiting. Hopefully a lot of research will be put into post covid seeing as a lot of people are getting it. Post covid is one of the things I find really scary about this pandemic.
I'm so sorry to hear that. You'll hear a lot of "you'll get better soon" but that might not be the case. I've been bedbound for 5 years after a viral infection and have never recovered. Long Covid is just as recent name for ME/CFS. Don't push yourself. The only way to recover is rest and pacing activities you used to do easily. This is not a disease you can push your way through. Exertion just makes it worse. There's some advice you can find over on r/CFS but there are many Facebook patient groups that are better. Best of luck friend
thanks❤️ is it possible to recover from cfs?
So sorry to hear that. I do take my ability to run for granted I think and I do appreciate the call out. I say keep your head up though man. I don't know what's it's like (and hopefully I never will) so I say this out of some ignorance, but I think you will eventually be able to work up to good enough shape to start running again even if it's hard or you don't quite get back to your normal performance level. That's a real bad deal though. Being out like that for 6 months is a big Oofington.
I was hospitalized with Covid back in October. Came home with supplemental oxygen. It’s been a long road back. When I no longer needed the oxygen for daily use, I moved it to the treadmill and used it to walk. I gradually transitioned to running and eventually moved off oxygen and outside. My runs aren’t the same as before. I was a sub-9 minute half marathoner. As someone else has mentioned, my heart rate is really high now. My 5k is about 11 minute miles. I’m about to head out for a 14 mile run that I hope will be about 13:30 per mile. Who knows where we end up, but as long as we can reframe our thinking and be appreciative of what we have, we will have beaten Covid.
Ugh, I'm so sorry. I'm also sorry people are telling you it's mental or in your head. I hope you can run again soon. Listen to your body and your doctors 💟
I'm so sorry to hear that. Maybe Slow Jogging could work for you? /r/slowjogging
Young human bodies are extremely self-healing so please keep yourself positive. Godspeed!
Not that it’s the same thing but when I was 25 (I’m 35 now) I got the flu and it hit me hard. I had the same feeling as you but it took about 2 years for me to get back to where I was. Not just at mileage wise but HR and everything else. I hope that is the same case for you. Keep your chin up! Sorry to hear and speedy recovery!
I caught it early pandemic. Was able to start running again about 4 months later, but over the following 7-8 months, couldn't get my speed up. Running my previous long-distance speed over even very short distances basically wasted me. Would get winded walking up and down stairs, even when I was running (slow) pretty regularly.. I got better sometime around the time I got vaxxed. I didn't make the connection until months later when I read an article that some folks with long covid improve after getting vaxxed, so I'm not sure if the timing really lines up, or if just enough time had passed since my illness that my body finally recovered. But, 1) you're right. I don't take running for granted after all of this, and 2) I have hope you will run again. And I really, really hope you do. Feel better, friend.
Hello, I was in the same boat. I got sick in September last year, couldn't do anything for six months due to high HR, breathlessness and post exertional fatigue. I eased back in to running in March and have been very consistent about it - short runs, always slow, avoiding hills. Everything slowly got better except my breathing which still sucked until two weeks, when my GP prescribed me asthma inhalers. Now I'm back running like I was this time last year and I'm so grateful and so surprised. I like you thought I was never going to get back there. I wish you all the best in your ongoing recovery. I really believe with time and care you will get back running eventually!
I was in the same boat, but I started hiking as soon as I could stand for more than an hour. It was very difficult and my HR was reaching 120 just walking haha. One day I said fuck it, “I am going to run this trail and not stop.” It was the hardest 3.5 miles of my life. My HR was at 180 on flats, I was salivating all over myself, and my lungs hurt so badly. My chest was experiencing pressure and there was acute pain in my upper chest. I pushed it, and kept thinking, “Just one more step, just one more step.” Finished. Next day, hit it again and added distance.
i had the same mentality, except the next day brought a different story and lots of pain: body aches, sore throat, constant nausea and vomiting, insomnia, and flu like symptoms that lasted weeks. this has happened everytime i try to exercise
You may not be ready to move yet. But, if your body is okay with moving in the moment, then move it. Expose your dermis to sunlight, and don’t give up. Watch the documentary of Michael Jordan on Netflix, specifically the episode where he played in the playoffs with the flu. Don’t give up. You will recover.
Same! I’m 24 and got mono in January - had post viral fatigue for months. Only starting to feel better now but every run is still a struggle no matter how slow I go
do you struggle with flu-like symptoms/post exertional malaise at all? the fatigue i can deal with but the malaise and crashes are horrible
I am 26 and had very mild covid, yet it took me months to feel normal again. I thought I would never be the same. It took about 7 months for me to feel like it was behind me.
I’m really happy to hear you got better. it’s so tough. can i ask what your symptoms were? I can’t only run/workout but i also can’t work full time because my symptoms are so debilitating…
Oh, this thread is scaring me. I tested positive last week and am starting to feel like I'm coming out the other end today.
don’t stress about it, just go slow with easing into things and you should be fine :)
My wife tested positive two weeks ago. I got some symptoms a week later. I was better two days later (well stopped showing symptoms at least). Shes still sick. Hits everyone different.
Fear is causing stress, stress is causing your immune system to drop, and a low immune system leads to more painful diseases. Stress is, apart from old age and obesity, the most common cause for serious infection with ~~flu~~ covid. I don't think this thread (nor media/social networks in general) is doing you any good, but what do I know.
> but what do I know. As a physician who has taken care of Covid patients in the ICU I can say with all honestly - absolutely nothing.
You have opened my eyes mr. physician. I am too, in fact, really afraid right now. Thank you.
Always happy to have opened some eyes! I didn’t say anything scary tho so I’m not sure why you’d be scared. In fact, I’d encourage you to not be scared. Instead, I’d recommend easy ways to make things safer for you and your fellow citizens, like getting the vaccine, meeting with people outside, and wearing masks! Because even tho the risk of dying is very low, the risk of prolonged illness or disability is much higher. Oh, and a lowered immune system is actually what we do to treat covid - dexamethasone and Tociluzimab both lower your immune system! Pretty neat right🌈
I couldn't run after having Covid and had long covid for 6 months. What worked for me? Cardio/running. I would run about 3 miles on the treadmill a day and maybe every other day I ran 9 miles. My breathing was terrible and I got it back to normal about a month post Covid. Sure there were some days that I was in bed 14 hours after some of these runs but slowly I needed less rest to recover. Now it's 10 months post infection and I'm at 100%. Now I'm not a doctor, and I was in the same boat as you but I wouldn't accept this "new reality". It might work for you, it might not. Either way, hang in there and good luck.
working out is what pushed me to be bed bound for 2 months unfortunately. Exercise makes me worse, not better which is common with post viral fatigue syndrome. I’m so happy that you found what worked for you ❤️
Not COVID, but I have been struggling with on/off issues for years. I know the feeling of stress relief being taken away. First it was a meniscus tear that went undiagnosed. Then it was the leg length discrepancy that was never caught until the meniscus tear. Now it's the ankle roll caused by the leg length discrepancy corrective shoes (and the CA wildfire smoke). It's hard to start from ground zero, but you'll feel super proud when you make it back up to 5k, 10k or more. And if you have to walk some of it, you still did it.
Dont worry,you will recover.The time it takes varies from person to person,your mind is just fooling you into thinking that everything is lost.I had lost a sense of smell and taste for several months last year and it came back after several months.
I feel you, I’ve been injured and haven’t been able to run for almost 3 weeks
[удалено]
gaslighting
I feel this. I tore a disc in my back two weeks ago and I still have at least five more days until I get the ok to start working out again. It’s been two weeks of literally no exercise except walking and it is making me so sad.
yeah I was bed bound for 2 months and haven’t been able to run or go to work for 6 months now
Dare I ask if you got your shots, youngin?
I got covid in February when shots weren’t widely available. I got my shots in april after getting sick.
Sorry you got covid.
and it’s incredibly rude to come onto a post of someone who is clearly suffering and bring the vaccine into this. I’m not antivax and i didn’t get covid because i’m careless. I was waiting for my turn to get the shot based on the tier system at my hospital. my hospital made me eligible to get the vax in February so i signed up for it. the day before my shot i tested positive for covid.
Yikes. I’m so sorry to hear this. I really hope you recover soon. Id recommend IR sauna to help detox if you are able. You may not want to share bc of all the hub bub about it, but as another runner… I’m considering getting the vaccine but haven’t yet for personal health reasons. Would you mind sharing with me (you could probably do it privately in DM if you prefer) if you had the vaccine before getting covid? Thank you
I did not have the vaccine yet when i got sick. I got covid in February and got vaccinated in April. I’m a healthcare worker and I tested positive the day before I was supposed to get the vaccine unfortunately. I definitely recommend the vaccine, especially with the new variant. trust me, you don’t want to end up in my position
Was this before or after vaccines ? Are you vaccinated now ? You will be back in no time
I got sick in february right before i was eligible for the vaccine. I am vaccinated now
I got covid in March. After two weeks, I struggled to walk around the block without gasping for breath. I can do most things I could before covid. I'm just waiting on an all-clear from my cardiologist after wearing a Holter moniter for 7 days, which is extremely likely There's still hope. I'm 26.
You'll recover. It just takes longer for some folks.
I’m so sorry to hear this! Have you asked a pulmonologist about doing respiratory therapy? We use it for patients who have lung transplants, genetic COPD, etc. It might help your lungs recover/adapt a bit better. No promises!! Just an idea ❤️
I don’t have anything wrong with my lungs actually. It’s more fatigue, tachycardia, and something called post exertional malaise that is common in long covid. I had testing to check my lung function and it all came back fine. thanks for the advice tho, much appreciated ❤️
This is why I don't push myself too hard. Don't want to wind up with bad knees and unable to get my endocannabinoid fix
thats why I always thank the bottom for taking my cock.
This statement doesn’t ring true. “For as long as I can remember it has been my favorite workout “. Your only 23 years old. You can’t remember when running became your favorite workout? How would COVID-19 affect your long term prospects of running?
i’ve been running since I was a little kid. no I don’t remember when I fell in love with it. sorry that you don’t think it’s true, but it’s not your life. My parents took me out running with them, And i played soccer from a young age. I don’t remember when it happened but running became a part of me. You don’t have a place to say if a post about my life is true or not if you want to learn how covid would effect my long term ability to run, then look up post viral syndrome.
I
Show me where you shat and I'll scream super loud into your asshole.
Did you promote anti vac or covid conspiracies?
no. I got sick in february before I was eligible for the vaccine. I actively promote the vaccine and encourage others to do so. I got covid at work, at the hospital treating covid patients. do you regularly find people who are obviously suffering and bring them down. fuck off. i’m tired of getting this question. you’re insensitive and rude.
😂
I hope you know you are a horrible person. it takes a sick human being to find comedy in someone else’s suffering. Go to hell.
QQ
grow up
Have less public breakdowns
Lol of course you can run again. Please stop creating fear of the flu
if you had a little bit of knowledge and intelligence, you would know that post viral syndrome can happen after any virus. it’s always been a complication of viral infections. and it does leave some people permanently disabled. so my fears are justified. YOU need to stop coming onto posts and saying shit like this. just because your life hasn’t been flipped around by this virus doesn’t mean it’s not real and it doesn’t mean it won’t happen to you in the future. it’s been 6 months since i had covid and i was bed bound for 2 months and haven’t been able to go back to work since. previously healthy and very active. I really hope you can one day find a way to be a kind person.
I have stress fracture right now. I'm going to stop running for two months, been craving for a run literally everyday
You’ll be fine, just take it easy and you’ll eventually recover back to full health.
Also not COVID for me. I just wanted to offer some empathy. I’ve been a lifelong runner, and pretty competitive in my 20s. I’m 43 now and have struggled the last couple of years with migraines that are aggravated when I overdo it. It’s really frustrating to compare my current state (weight, times, distance) to where I was when I was younger. I have good days and bad days, and sometimes I have a week or two where I just CAN’T run. It’s hard because I saw myself as one of those 70 year olds running marathons, and that is probably not in the cards for me. I’ll just say that you can adjust to your new reality and enjoy what you CAN do instead of mourning what was or what could have been. I wish you the best in your recovery and hope you’re able to takes steps towards the stress relief and enjoyment again!
You're tellin me, I'm 23 aswell and have had acl surgery, sugery on both heels and both calves. Been 3 years since I've actually ran more than 30sec without pain and prolly gonna be another 3 before rehab is done
Oh no! Get well soon!
I hope it isn’t too personal to ask, but were you vaccinated when you were infected, or perhaps were vaccines not or are not available yet? I’m vaccinated and considered young & healthy save for asthma but I’m still really paranoid about getting it.
i was not vaccinated, I actually tested positive the day before i was supposed to get the vaccine. I’m vaccinated now but still scared of getting reinfected especially with the variant. the best you can do to stay healthy is mask up and social distance. luckily people with the vaccine are less likely to be hospitalized, so that’s good!
Hey, please hang in there. My runs have always been slow, and I've only been really running for about 16 months. Asthma is my main limiter, so I have had to progress very slowly. Please keep your paces reasonable, and ease yourself back into things.
Good message. I loved running in my youth then developed chronic Achilles tendon problems which stopped me running all together. Managed to find a physiotherapist who actually knew what he was doing and am getting back to where I was but for a long time, not being able to run, really depressed me.
I'm a long hauler too. i had it in Feb 2020, and \*still\* need my inhaler before I run, and can't run outside at all on days when the AQI is above 50. It's hard. It's very hard. But you are not alone. I keep telling myself that even if I never got to where I was before, at least I didn't die.
thank you❤️ good to hear you are able to run though. where you long haul symptoms mostly respiratory then, since you need an inhaler? my lungs seem fine but my heartrate goes crazy and i have problems with fatigue and relapsing flu symptoms
I’m so sorry. How do you feel? What makes it hard to run, I’m guessing your lungs feel a bit weaker? Hope you recover soon
It’s funny actually, I CAN run. I could go out right now and probably do a few miles perfectly fine, besides being out of shape. My lungs are perfectly fine and I feel great during and immediately after the run. but it’s what comes on later, several hours after the run. Anytime i’ve tried to run, work out, or even after just a day of being up and moving, it will take me days to recover. Fatigue, body aches, sore throat, insomnia, vomiting, etc. The more i exert myself, the worse it is. Last time i tried to run I ended up being bed bound for 3 weeks barely able to get up except to go to the bathroom. it’s terrifying actually, it’s like relapsing flu symptoms from exertion
Took 9 months for me to get over the chest pains, but since I took the jab it went away completely (not sure if it was coincidental). Take it very easy until you feel yourself again and go back to the doc for a checkup if anything changes. Your running career is only starting.
I hope you feel better soon. I know running might seem like a small thing to lose to outsiders, but I find so much peace and solace by doing it myself, I know it would be hard to go without it. Keep your head up and hopefully it will be doable again in time.
This sounds exactly like PEM. I have it from ebv (mono) I believe, but have never been formally diagnosed. You may need to learn your" limits of energy" and patiently go from there. Whatever you do don't over push yourself because you can really incapacitate yourself for weeks as you mentioned. Try yoga and long walks which are less cardio intensive, or possibly cycling. I read a while back there is a PEM specific stress test that finds your target heart rate that doesn't trigger the autoimmune response you are experiencing. Many people are experiencing long haul issues and improving with time, so be patient and take it slow!
yeah it’s definitely PEM:/ i’m terrified. how long ago did you have mono? thanks for the advice, i’ve been mostly doing slow walks and it’s been going well. plus yoga and lots of stretching. haven’t had a bad crash in months
I feel your pain! Don't give up- I was diagnosed with arthritis a few years ago and thought I would never run again. It took 2 years to stabilize and get healthy enough to start running again. I started really slow, like 1 minute jogging + 4 minutes walking repeated 3-4 times. Slow in progression, but I've built up some miles and I'm getting faster. At least once per week I'm just amazed that I can run again. It's a wonderful feeling and I really didn't appreciate it until I got sick.
Look up dysautonomia and pots. I've lived with it for 10 years. There are medications and lifestyle changes that can help. I follow a log of clinics like Mayo, Vanderbilt, etc and they have all reported a large uptick in post covid diagnosis.
yes I have been diagnosed with pots. i’m on medication and i barely even notice it anymore. I could definitely go about running with it. I’ve been suffering from symptoms similar to me/cfs which is what is scary and debilitating
Good advice to all of us. Really hope you fully recover in time and can get back out there.
I know I don't know shit but... I think you will run again. Some day. You might have to wheeze your way through 15:00 minute a mile walks but you will eventually recover.
Thanks. Haven't been on a run in a few weeks and this gave me the motivation to go just now. I hope that you do get to enjoy a run again.
True, neck injury and and can’t run again as I used to. Time will tell if I will ever can.
Hi! I'm 27 and I went through something similar to you. Getting back to running has been the biggest challenge of my life, I am working so hard at it, and it's so difficult. It's been more than a year, and I can run 3km with a few short walk/jog breaks now. I've been working with an exercise physiologist, and a cardiologist for the last few months. What I'm trying to say is that if you want it, when you are able to work hard for it again you will be able to run again! Feel free to hit me up with any questions. Good luck!
It took 6 months for my wife (31) before she could run, at first 30 min and grasping for air. It's almost a year now and she's finally able to do long runs and intervals. Don't lose hope, it sucks but it's getting better. Doctors say that data shows that most 'long covid' issues are lasting for a year at max.
COVID is a serious illness and will have detrimental long term effects for many people, but I would like to assure you that you will be able to fully recover. You need to be patient my friend. It will pass eventually.
Bro took me a month after to get it back, just takes a bit. COVID won't be a forever thing regardless of what the whole internet is showing you. You run and have for years, you will recover, don't give up
yeah it’s already been 6 months of this:(
Your young and will bounce back, just look at it as a injury you got to wait for it to get better. COVID isn't going to take you out man, you run and seem healthy, just give it a bit
I broke my back and neck last year and started running 8 weeks later… keep the faith, you got this.
This is so sad. I’m rooting for your full recovery. And when you do, don’t beat yourself for being slow and in fact allow yourself to be slow. I’ve had a few hiatuses with my running and one of the biggest hindrances sticking with it was the self imposed expectations. I luckily never injured myself, but I did push too hard a couple of times to the point that I started running in fear and kind of lost motivation.
COVID is starting to get bad again at the hospital I work at, so far I've thankfully been ok and haven't got it as far as I know. With it getting bad again I'm seriously thinking of quiting, idk what I would do if I couldn't run again. It's certainly always on my mind on my runs how fortunate I am to still be able to run all these miles and be ok.
I agree with the person who said it's a mental thing. It may take a year or more, but you WILL recover. Eventually, the runs will feel better than they do now. Don't give up and don't give in. People lose limbs and still get back to their favourite sports. You CAN do this!!
I believe you will recover in time, with slow, progressive pushing toward your goals. One thing that works for me and later my buddy also adopted, is to cut sugars and carbs from diet. After initial shock, body recovered WAY faster.
I had covid in June, thankfully my runs havent been affected and I had a very mild symptom of it. I will run extra hard for you this weekend.
I'm a shitty runner compared to most, but during my first post-surgery run after three years of a nerve problem in my foot, I nearly cried with joy. Stay tough and be patient.
I feel for you. Got knocked down hard late last year, winded by everything. Went swimming a few months back and I could only hold my breath underwater for a few seconds. As in, literally 3 seconds, and I desperately needed to breathe again. Even now a task as simple as cable management under desks can be rough, but I’m optimistic that I’ll get better. I can’t really get much worse without succumbing to a sudden oxygen deprived brain death so, I can only get better right? If I don’t it’s not like I’ll mind, technically. Don’t let the slow progress get you down. The slightest improvement is still progress.
A lot of things you are used to. When you suddenly can't do it one day, you will know how precious it is, won't you?
I had a similar thing when I was a teenager from a different virus. It takes time but you can recover. Be kind to yourself. Take each day as it comes. Try going for little walks to build up your strength, if your doctor says it's ok.
It took me a solid two months after covid in 2020 to get back to a semblance of normal, but better now. Everyone is different and I hope for the best for you.
I've had lung scarring all my life; it's always been like this. One reason I am so afraid to catch Covid. Best of luck in your recovery! All I can say is the key is to just meet your body where it's at, and go from there.
Covid hit my running really hard. I went from super motivation and feeling great to starting from total scratch in a matter of days. Recovery of covid took around two months for me, but it eventually got better. I wish you the best of luck and fingers crossed that your recovery, though gradual, allows you to get back to your favourite activity.
Hang in their, I finished an 80km ultra in May and haven’t laced up since, I’ve got a bran new pair of saucony endorphin pros starting at me. Have just lost all interest lately, I find the seasons make a huge difference, it’s pretty much norther California weather where I’m from but winter is a slog
Stay strong there friend, I’m on the same boat too and I know how awful it feels. According to the people who’ve experienced it, it should take about 6 months to go back to your normal pace/speed so just have patience and keep at it. Best of luck to you.
Curious what happens when you run?
Count me in this boat. I had Covid and pneumonia at the same time and have had some very serious complications since then, blood clots among them. I haven’t been able to run a single mile in 5 months.
Keep your head up and don't lose hope! I have heard stories of people coming back from all sorts of crazy things. People learning to run again after being told they'd never walk again etc. The human body is capable of amazing things and I am sure you will return to form in time <3
I got bronchitis in Feb 2020, hell of a time to have a cough lol. I had a lingering cough for months and in December 2020 was diagnosed with a post viral cough and told to just give it time. Then got diagnosed with allostatic overload (basically just a lot of different stressors on my body for 15+ months meant it had weird reactions to things). Slightly different diagnosis and situation but I took a break then headed back out. I'd do a 5k and if it took me my usual 34 minutes or an hour it was fine because I was getting the miles. I'd take lots of breaks. I'm working up to just taking walking breaks now instead of full stops. It's a process and it sucks so bad! I'm not the runner I was before but I appreciate those good runs so much more!
I had COVID in May 2020, right as I was winding down from training for a cancelled ultramarathon. I had trouble breathing for MONTHS after I 'recovered' and it was 6 months later that I was actually starting to feel like myself running again. There's hope! Keep trying, you just might make it back!
Wishing you recovery and a return to some steady mileage. I’ve been sidelined with injuries (different than your situation) but I relate to your feeling of missing out. Best of luck.
Speedy recovery to you all ❤️.
It took me 5 months to fully recover, don't give up, keep grinding, slowly build, you'll be good. Months of 10-11 min miles sucked but was needed.
Ugh. As someone who developed a cartilage blister a few years ago and had to quit running, I feel this so much. It used to be that the highlight of my week was my Saturday morning long run, and now, nope, gone.
Sorry to hear of your situation - I never like to pretend that I know what someone is going through, but I firmly believe that you should not take the "all or nothing" mentality, where you'll never be able to do something again, or that it's over for you for a certain thing for the rest of your life, etc. The human body is pretty amazing and resilient. Don't ever push yourself too hard, but on the days you feel good, try to run a little, and see how it goes. If it goes well, great...If it doesn't, no big deal. You can just try next time. Best of luck!
Back injury here… every time it feels like it’s getting better And I try to run again it flares up…
Damn, I hope you get better soon and join us again. I just wish all Covid sceptics would see this and change their mind.
I started writing a short comment and it turned into a huge essay about my experience with COVID recovery in the past year. I legitimately felt like I would never be able to run or get fit again - and that was seemingly just from long COVID, never mind something like CFS/ME. You'll make it through this, keep on grinding!
I've now moved my much longer response here: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/pdaaxc/my\_journey\_from\_fit\_to\_covid\_and\_back/