I can't remember the last time I was "actually sick." I can't remember the last time I called in sick to an employer and burned any leave time. It's entirely possible that it has been more than six (6) years. The problem is not that I have a cold. Or that I "actually called in sick." The problem is that I have to openly admit that generally I ignore the advice I shell out liberally to athletes, and not just the ones with whom I have the pleasure of working.
I suck (in all capital letters - SUCK) at missing a work out, or staying home on the couch with my Fluffies, and taking care of the body in a non-physical way. Generally, I adopt the attitude of "if I'm not coughing, and if the fever isn't too high" then SUCK IT UP Buttercup and move forward. Now, let me be clear - the "sickest" I've been in years is a brutal round with a cold that hung around for a while due to my asthma. Yeah. It sucked. But, I pushed through and only felt "down" for four days or so. I often wonder if I would just take a day and sleep a bit extra, if the cold would be on it's way more quickly.
So, this week, Wednesday to be exact, when I felt the cold teasing me I decided to listen to The Coach in me. I set my alarm for AFTER work out time, and told myself that if I had not slept well, or felt chills I would REALLY and TRULY call in and stay home on the couch. The Super Sherpa/Hubby took care of #BoyWonder, brought me lemonade mix for my cure all, and made dinner. I huddled under a fluffy blanket, and shortly thereafter went to bed.
Thursday morning dawns and I have not slept as well as I would have liked, but I would be "okay" if I had to go to the office. Then I got out of bed and felt like I was freezing. I went out to the couch, so I could see my boy off to school and then called the office. Admittedly, I thought maybe I might make it by lunch time. Nope. I lay down on the couch, got the fluffy blanket and four-footed fluffies and proceeded to doze through a couple of episodes of Blue Bloods. I snacked some and drank a TON of hot, strong Country Time lemonade with cinnamon sticks (my go to cure all for colds). I managed to let the dogs out, get a shower, and sit in the sun on our new really comfy deck chair cushions. By dinner time I felt better and thought surely I was past the worst. The the cough began.
I despise that dry, bothersome, asthma-like bark that I get as my body is past the "sick and fever" and is trying to loosen the chest back up. What a pain...! And this is when it always SOUNDS like I'm sick, but am truly past it. So, I set my alarm, AGAIN, for after work out time, and got up for coffee as usual. I felt pretty normal. Got ready and headed into the office. The cough stayed at bay until just past lunch, and then went all Emeril on me: kicked it up a notch. Bah, humbug! I hydrated so much I thought I might float away for a while. Now the cough is subsiding a bit and we shall see what the evening holds in store.
There is a 50th Birthday dinner on the calendar for this evening that I feel compelled to back out of - it's not fair to the Birthday Girl or the other guests. And, there a long run tomorrow. That's pretty easy - I can always move that to Sunday. Not the end of the world.
So there you have it. I took my own advice. For a change. In the grand scheme, one day is nothing.
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