Relentless

It just depends on if you feel better this week. If your not better then it will be a lot of time off, but if you start feeling good then missing some time last week really wont mess with you too much or even at all. In fact the rest could help you to just come back stronger. I think no you need a spring marathon- SLC or not you need one somewhere to help the legs and body get going and set the tone for the rest of the summer.

But un- sugar coated I think you'll be ready to hammer SLC... a lot can change in a couple week- The miles have been there all winter and your shape is already there- just get feeling better and your good to go.

What I meant to say up there is "no matter what you need a spring..."

I tend to agree with Clyde, though you've been sick this week, you have been running enough miles and have had many quality weeks, months that I think you'll be more than ready for Salt Lake.

I think you should approach Salt Lake just like you have planned, go after the time you want and see where your training puts you.

You have already ran some good times Painters and Spectrum and that was coming off hard weeks with high mileage. I think as you taper a little and continue to tune up for the race you'll be fine.

I think the other benefit of running Salt Lake for you, would be getting the Spring marathon behind you. The month of May which is usually very busy for track coaches and teachers would be less stressful and you wouldn't be trying to figure out how to fit a race in.

However, if you do decide against SLC, outside of Ogden I don't see many close marathons that aren't on Sunday. There was one in Shiprock, NM on a Saturday toward the end of May.

If you're not opposed to Sunday's there are a few more the beginning of June.

I think you should still do Salt Lake and go for the time you were shooting for. A little rest never hurt. Go for it man!

Cut back every thing, time, intensity, distance, etc. You are probably feeling a little burnout with such high mileage. It takes a long time from what I've heard to get used to that level of running.

I'll bet anything with your base already in place that if you just took it easy with one a day for a couple of weeks say, 6-10 miles at most with an hour 13 miler on weekends you may snatch a pr. Hey it beats hitting the wall from overtraining right. Read about Bill Dellinger's experience with Kenny Moore's experience with overtraining. You may find it interesting.

Sorry, I meant an hour and a half 13 miler..

I meant Bill Bowerman too. Sorry I'm just not awake right now I guess.

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I think the biggest problem is that it has developed into some sort of bronchial infection - so my breathing is very limited. I had a crazy concoction of medicines mixed up by the pharmacist that is supposed to pretty much just kill everything in your body, but then it turns out that the first warning is to not be used by anyone with an erythromiacin allergy (the one medical allergy I know I have) - oh well I'll try something else.

Dave, Sorry about the infection and the allergy. If it is an infection hopefully they can come up with a different bug killer for you. As far as the race. I agree if you get this rest you should be on. Plus I want to see you up there ahead of me on race day!

Steve, Is there a link to the article you mention? I would like to read it...

What do those numbers mean on tomorrows work out? like 100 meters or what??

Sorry coach that sucks! Get better soon!

Oh no! So what does that mean? Are you just playing sick since it's our meet this week? ;) I hope you get feeling better quick! Things are going okay at practice. Is there anything you need me to do? What about spaghetti dinner stuff? I asked Telly if we were okay with everything and he seems to think so. He said you ordered shirts and medals and he has taken care of everything else (seriously). We probably need to get the dinner organized, so let me know what I can do. I will be off at 11 on Friday if you need me. Hopefully you are okay to come by then! Get better!!!

I agree with everyone too. I think that the rest, although being sick, won't tear you down. I think that you will do great. You always do and you have trained really hard. I hope you get better soon!

I agree with Ally.

If SLC is the only spring marathon that fits your schedule, it would be better to run it with a slower time than to run zero spring marathons. Having said that, a little rest never hurt anyone. I've ran some of my best times after returning from sickness/injury. Good luck with your recovery. If you decide to pass on SLC, you could always join me in Nebraska a few weeks later....

I think you could do good too! But listen to the smart people.

Get better soon.

Dave, sorry to hear about the pneumonia! That really stinks! Keep your chin up, I realy feel with the tough miles you have put in, SLC is still very doable. Hang in there!

Thanks Dave. I WILL STAY INJURY FREE AT ALL COSTS. I agre with everyine. Run the SL Marathon. your ready to rumble. 1 week of no running will not hurt a young gun like you!

Dave man that sucks!!! PNEUMONIA? Where did you get that? and How? Just focus on the positives of being able to take the time off and get healthy. Like Glen said I think I have ran some of my best races in the last two years after being sick... so that's a plus!

Dave, I really think you should wait and see how you feel two weeks away from the marathon. If you feel you can get some solid workouts in before hand than why not run it and see what happens. You've built a lot of base miles this winter so your body is fit.

My personal view would be if I've trained hard, but I'm sick and just don't feel great leading up to it than I wouldn't run it. But if I've had good solid runs up to the taper and my health feels good why not run it.

No expert just my thoughts.

Hey- I am sending you an email so please check it and get back to me! thanks.

Thanks for the thoughts guys - I think your right Kory and everybody. I think I was just down about not having ran in a few days and having seen good training time go away. But why rule out the chance completely, time will tell.

Hey get better their buddy. I have had pneumonia before it sucks, i was on an oxygen tank and everything. Hey i want to see you their this weekend though it really helps me when your their encouraging and yelling splits. I hope i see you.

Coach, my two cents, running often makes no sense, unpredictable how you will feel on race day. Take a chance on the race day magic and trust your training. How will you feel if you do not run it?

Stay Kool, keep the faith, B of BS Rools out

Coach I say just get better!

Dave, sorry to hear about the pneumonia, that really stinks. I can't really relate to your elite level of running but from my persective if you get feeling better before the race, trust your training and go for it. ("You'll never know if you don't try and never knowing comes with it's own unique torture"--Rick Morrisey) The time off is not a bad thing at all and may turn out to be a good thing, extra recovery may help you come back stronger than before.

Dude are you alive over there? Give us an update. I think you got the pneumonia from "Name dropper". Think about it....

Everyone - thanks again for your support. The more I think about it, the more you're right, I need to just go for it. Plus all this time off has got me really antsy, maybe I'll parley that into a couple good workouts and a good race.

Clyde - I've been trying to think of all the great runners I've personally known that have gotten pneumonia and still run great, but I would be writing for quite awhile to put them all down and how I know them all!

Doc postponed school for today (Thursday) and Friday for me when the ex-ray showed it was in both lungs which is a pretty bad thing. I guess it just makes getting ready for the PV Invite a little easier for me (maybe tougher for everyone else though).

Holt - you have a good attitude and determination that will get you through this and you will excel in the marathon.

The experience you have in running I believe is the key, because you will know how to prepare and train leading up to this marathon. With this time-off your legs are going to be fresh and ready to get out the door. The key thing is you have the fitness and you won't lose that in just two weeks or even a month.

David your a great runner so I know you'll excel.

I just emailed you the changes. See ya tomorrow.