that’s runnable
The 36th Edition of your favourite Running Newsletter
Illness is one of the most frustrating hurdles for runners. When you want to put in the work, but the body denies you the privilege, the mental battle often outweighs the physical one.
Something to Think About 💭
Training is about consistency. But good health is the foundation of that consistency.
Something to Ask Yourself ❓
When you get sick, do you prioritise recovery or pushing through out of fear of losing fitness?
Article of the Week 📄
This article offers practical advice for managing training when you’re sick, the importance of listening to your body and using the “neck rule” to decide whether to continue or rest. It highlights the value of patience and gradual return to activity, helping you avoid setbacks and maintain long-term fitness.
Track of the Week 🎶
This week’s track reminds me of good times only!
This week’s track of the week, from the album Filoxiny, is:
I Didn’t Know by Skinshape (2018)
Personal Lesson
This week, I was hit with shingles for the first time. Out of nowhere, I found myself not just dealing with discomfort but also facing the decision to hit pause on my training. With multiple ultras coming up, I should be ramping things up, chasing elevation, and fine-tuning my endurance. But instead, I’ve been forced into complete rest. There is no medical advice I like less than “rest”.
Unsurprisingly for me, that decision to do absolutely nothing has been difficult. You may relate. I wrestled with the urge to sneak in an easy run or some strength work. But the more I leaned into the stillness, the more I recognised the value of it. Rest isn’t a break from training; it’s part of training. Choosing health over hustle this week was the right call, even if my mind tried to convince me otherwise.
As the days have passed, I’ve noticed the mental chatter slowly getting quieter. The fear of missing out on training progress was replaced with the understanding that my body needed this time to recover. Training’s more than just putting in the work; it’s about respecting the body’s signals. The discipline of restraint, of choosing stillness over action, can become its own kind of training. It’s a reminder that resilience isn’t just built through effort but also through rest.
Running – Life’s Metaphor
Running teaches us that progress isn’t linear. Illnesses, setbacks, and unplanned stops remind us of an important truth: longevity requires patience.
Final Thoughts
We’re in this for the long game. If you love running for the freedom, the adventure, and the sheer joy of movement, then prioritising your health will always be the best decision. Missing a few sessions isn’t a failure; it’s an investment in your future performance and health.
Setbacks and illnesses are inevitable. They don’t define your training, they give it texture and perspective. The skill is in learning to listen to your body and responding with care, not fear. I’ve had some time to reflect on this since being hit by shingles, and I really think this is something that is a crucial part of being a well-rounded athlete.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not that serious. Good health, always and forever. That’s the ultimate goal. Everything else? It’ll come back with time and patience. Trust that, and you’ll be stronger for it.
Remember, you don’t get bonus points for pushing through illness. What you get instead is a higher risk of prolonged setbacks. If you can give yourself permission to recover fully, you’ll return stronger, more energised, and better equipped to handle the demands of training. Health isn’t just the absence of illness; it’s the presence of balance, and that’s worth protecting.
Thanks again for reading and subscribing.
Run the runnable, and keep showing up for yourself!
Tommy 🙂
