Too Much, Too Long

Everyone always warns about doing too much, too soon. My problem is an offshoot of this dilemma, whereby too much comes after too long of a layoff. January was a good month for running, but February turned wicked.

Finally, last week, an opportunity presented itself. Thinking that my base wasn't too far degraded after two weeks and two days, my Valentine's Day workout consisted of the Elevens (i.e., 55 push-ups and 55 sit-ups) in the morning and a 30-minute run in the afternoon. Almost immediately afterward, the signs of the coming soreness storm were apparent. This was going to hurt.

Couple this with a travel-induced cold that arrived in force on Friday, and all was not right with the world.

Fact: I saw a woman wearing a SARS mask in the airport.

Fact: A couple who was seated in front of me delayed our takeoff because, after already boarding, they decided to get off the plane because the woman was sick.

Fact: Frickin' germ-infested kids kicking my seat back.

There was a moment over the weekend when I sneezed so hard that my already-sore body cramped from the overexertion. My screams of agony were made all the worse when I had to check to see if I'd miraculously sprouted a six-pack from the effort, but no dice.

The moral of the story? Doing too much after too long of a layoff from exercise can result in soreness, sickness and six-packless disappointment. Stay healthy, teammates ...