"Did I do the right thing?"

I drove up to the Chestnut Valley Freestyle and Boyne Highlands Classic, but decide not to race. 555 miles in the car, and I decide not to race. An entire weekend up north, and only 45 minutes of skiing to show for it.

"Did I do the right thing?"

The Facts

Thursday, I woke to a normal resting heart rate of 48 (normal is 46-49). At work, I suddenly got a bad stomach ache and nausea - and am promptly ordered home by my colleagues ("Don't you barf here..."). I drive home before noon and laze around the house. I feel better as the day goes on.

Friday my resting heart rate is 55 and I feel a little off. Someone else with similar symptoms in the past says they felt fine by the 3rd day. I decide to drive to the race site Friday night (4 hour drive) hoping I'll be better on Saturday morning.

It's Saturday morning, my resting heart rate is 54. I ski around the 3K course, my pulse seems a little high for the effort, and don't feel 100%. Do I ski the race and likely get sicker, or skip the race?

Decision #1

I decide not to do the 11K race and hope I feel better for on Sunday morning's classic race. Instead, I do a 45-minute easy distance ski, then take pictures and videos of the race. I get really cold in the process and run into the lodge after the leading juniors finish the race.

Saturday afternoon I take a 45 minute nap then wax up my classic skis for Sunday.

Decisions #2

Sunday morning, resting heart rate is 56, and I feel worse. I'm unmotivated and tired. I again decided NOT to race - I don't want to risk getting sick (I have to fly to New York this week on business, and have a big planning meeting Monday morning). I drive straight home and do no skiing or training.

This was very frustrating, especially since the races next weekend were very likely be cancelled because of poor snow conditions.

What would you have done I you were me? Take the poll at the right, then see what Torbjorn Karlsen had to say about my weekend and what I would have done if I had the chance to do it all over again.

FIRST, TAKE THE POLL, 
PRESS THE BACK BUTTON TO RETURN

then see what Torbjorn Karlsen said...

Continued...