ok started with "cold" 20th oct, runny nose but temp fine(scanned in and out at work) and no taste change so assumed nothing serious. Few days later 3 tested positive so had test and yep had covid... isolated and rested up until 10th Nov when did a steady 22miles on flat bike path... felt fine. So yesterday did a proper off road ride 10miles 670m climbing round Conwy mountain. Man I was struggling 😩 best advice for regaining fitness please folks... I'd normally be racing cross now and did loads of 100 plus mile road rides all summer so base should be sorted..... any ideas welcome!
Listen to your body, chances are you will need extra recovery time between rides, try and keep below heart z4 zone on rides.
Took me ~6 weeks of above after initially trying the odd all-out effort up a cat4 hill or two on rides, only to feel wrecked for ~4 days rather than the normal ~24 hours.
I tested positive on 13th April. After 2 weeks I returned to work and it was about 10 days before the fatigue hit me hard. I had a further test which surprisingly showed I still had the virus. I'm only just starting to get any sort of fitness back. As above, take it easy.
Everything I have read from other suggest take it slowly and take it easy. Over doing it will delay recovery and not increase your fitness.
I think there is another COVID thread on here where some people also discuss their experience.
I was completely wiped out by it back in March, the severe fatigue lasted for around 3 weeks. I seem to think it was around 6 weeks before I was able to do anything properly anaerobic.
Not had COVID but a few years ago I had normal pneumonia for a month and it took about three months to get back to fitness... as above just take it slowly. I started out just going for a walk every day for the first few weeks after nominally feeling better. Ended up walking 45mins - 1hr every day before feeling ready to do more
I had it at the start of May and it was about 6 weeks before I could attempt any exercise that was in any way challenging. Others I know were able to ease themselves back in sooner. There's nothing to be gained by rushing though.
Take it easy. Seriously. I thought I was getting over it after 2 months, but I'm still suffering 6 months on. I feel ok on a ride, but it can wipe me out for 2 days after. Telltale sign for me is the breathlessness the next day, which I never had pre covid.
3 weeks after it started and you are trying to ride like it didn't happen?
What they say. Rest up, unless you want ME.
Similar experience to davros. Had it back in April and still pretty knackered now. If I do anything remotely strenuous I get extremely tired and then have breathing issues for a couple of days afterwards.
Same as funk and davros. Got sick end March and still not 100%.
Can ride but have lost my power on hills and have to walk some (heart races badly otherwise) if I overdo it it breaks me.
I'd suggest taking things gently and ease back.
Cheers folks, am being fairly sensible, resting hr coming down so am on the mend. Steady flat 8mile run yesterday and no ill effects today so hopefully i can build it up slowly. Cheers for advice 👍
I'm in the club now as well. Feeling normalish after having what felt like a hangover for 2 weeks. But I can really feel it in my lungs. Feels like I've done some anaerobic exercise on a really cold day, when all I've done is watch tv.
went from 300km in a day to 300km in a month. takes 6 months.
dont drink all the beer and get fat; makes it harder.
I must be one lucky barsteward then because I'm bouncing back really well.... resting Hr is still 5bpm higher than before and not seeing as high HR as I'd usually expect... 4hrs yesterday on road and 4hrs mtb round clwyds today... feeling great! Started new very physical job 3 weeks ago too and coping with that too.... I think I was lucky doing so much in lockdown maybe meant I was fit so recovered quickly
I wrote this in the "100 days" thread...
It has taken me a long time to get over my illness, which was way back at the beginning of April. I know it’s not a great measure but I was looking at my (Garmin-generated) VO2 Max earlier. Last summer, it was 48 (cycling), 46 (running). In spring that had dropped to 38/38. I’m currently at 43/44. My efforts are slower than I’d like but I just pace things as I feel.
I had a good couple of days yesterday and today, feeling I might just have caught up with my pre-Covid fitness, but I'm going to see how the next couple of days pan out before I jump to any conclusions.
p20 and I are 7 and 5 days into COVID. We have no aspiration to do exercise any time soon (neither of us are well enough), but keen to learn from other people’s experiences as to the best way too recover, carefully.
Think I'm getting on for 2 weeks post covid. Mentally feeling back to normal but still get tired very frequently throughout the day. Breathing isn't great still, feels like a constant mild asthma attack.
I had it in early Feb ! Like all post viral things just listen to your body and the advice I was given was avoid long steady zone 2 stuff as all I’m doing is emptying my battery. Had a good run through may-July then was v flat august and sept so backed right off. Doing max 90 min rides, more low intensity hilly walks and keeping off the beers helps as well. RHR has been solid since April but every few weeks I have a day or days where I sleep during the day and can barely focus-really confused. So it’s a lingerer.
Dylan Johnson on YouTube did a reasonable video on the effects of Covid and returning to training afterwards. If you like or want science based answers.