I swear my immune system is weaker than the Tories’ election campaign. For the second time during my marathon training I’ve picked up a cold. But this time it’s 3 days until the London Marathon!

Now I can sit around and sulk about the fact that I’ll be potentially be running the marathon ill, or I can focus on getting better. It’s not uncommon for runners who have been training for 4 months to pick up a cold in the weeks before a race. In fact, I found myself reading my own blog post from last year to remind me of the fact.

Endurance training causes a rise in the hormone cortisol which causes stress. This stress can affect the immune system, which can make you more susceptible to infection! So basically, because I’m eating better and exercising more, I’m more likely to get a cold than Fatty McFatterson of Cheeseburger Land!

So today I’m writing this blog post from bed, watching cheesy daytime TV while nodding in and out of consciousness. The reality is that I’ve probably done all the training I can to get me through the marathon. For me to go out now and risk lengthening the illness by running would be really stupid.

I’ll be following the old neck rule on the day. Again, from last year’s post…

If your ailment is above the neck (sniffles, head colds, ear infections) then running will most likely not do you any harm and if your ailment is below the neck (injury, coughs, stomach aches) then running won’t do you any good.

I’m understandably a bit gutted, which is why receiving a good luck card from three terrific kids (Tilly, Jemima and Hector) cheered me up so much this morning. This is their depiction of me on race day (…and how right they will be)!

Off to get some more tissues…

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