This training thing was going great! For the first time, I am following a tried and true program, which is guiding me through long Saturday runs, cross-training Sundays and shorter runs during the week, not to mention glorious rest days. It is all in preparation for the Women’s Half Marathon in Nashville September 22.

Last week I accomplished my 8-mile run and was euphoric! I was on a roll, optimistically looking forward to the next Saturday, when I would do my never-before-achieved 9-mile run.

That didn’t happen. The outlook first became bleak Tuesday, when I felt groggy and couldn’t wake up for my 3-mile run. No problem — I ran 3 at lunch.

Halfway through my half marathon training, a sinus infection halted my progress.

Then with Wednesday came sinus pressure so ridiculous. It felt as if my head was smashed between a slab of concrete and an 8-ton elephant. No chance of running that day’s 5-mile schedule. ‘Seriously, I am getting sick now?’ I thought. ‘YOU CAN’T GET SICK NOW!’

I took a sick day. The doctor said it was just a virus and it had to run its course. (Glad something got to run!)

Thursday called for another easy 3-mile run, but I was absolutely miserable. My throat hurt and my sinus congestion was relentless. I crossed a line, rather my virus did: I had an infection. The doctor called in an antibiotics prescription for me.

Friday, the antibiotics had done little to ease my pain and suffering and I took a third sick day. Yes, I thought of all the work that was piling up at the office, but I was even more upset about the training I was missing.

I don’t do anything perfectly, but had been adhering to the Hal Higdon Novice 2 training to a T. But now, at week seven, my body shut down. I had no choice but to honor its wishes and help it heal by resting.

So on Saturday, here I sit, still a bit light-headed and groggy. I am no expert, but I bet if I tried running at all today I would likely pass out and ultimately, find myself in worse shape than I’d been earlier in the week.

I am concerned, though, about how to pick up again. I have lost almost a week of training, but the folks organizing the Lady Speed Stick Half Marathon won’t push the event back a week. Not for me. Not for anyone.

Here is my question to any runners out there who might have gotten sick mid-training: How do you recover? Can you recover? Do you pick up where you left off or start out slowly?

Any help is greatly appreciated!