Things finally returned to normal this week. Chest had cleared up by Monday, so decided I’d start back training this week. Not doing much mind you, but starting the process of actual exercise again.

30min eBike and bodyweight strength stuff on Monday, just a walk on Tuesday as work was hectic and I didn’t have time for anything else, then another 30min on the normal bike on Wednesday. That, plus work stress was enough to see a downward trend on morning HRV, so yesterday was an easy day (short walk, short, easy eBike) and then today was the first day since getting Covid that my HRV was back in my normal range, at 71.

I’ll aim to get another short bike ride today and tomorrow, plus another bodyweight session and see how that works out.

Good to be finally 🤞🏻over Covid!

Went for my first bike ride in weeks yesterday. Probably should have waited a couple of more days, but the forecast wasn’t great and the weather was perfect, so figured what the hell.

Did 30 minutes nice and easy, though got my HR up quite a bit higher than intended on all of the small rises around the place, culminating in 160+ atop the small rise to my house. That’s quite a bit more intensity than I wanted right now.

Woke up this morning and HRV took another dive, so probably not ideal, though work’s a bit hectic at the moment which doesn’t help either.

I took the eBike out instead for a longer ride today. I can cruise along on the flats doing a little work at 100-110bpm which is perfect, and then bump up the assistance on any climb to prevent HR spikes. That went well, so I think I’ll do a bit more of that as a more gentle introduction to exercise again.

Feeling almost OK now, so opted to do some v. basic bodyweight exercise this afternoon, after going for a short walk. Will see how I feel tomorrow.

Would be nice to be able to get outside on the bike again this weekend 🤞🏻

Went for a 40min walk this morning, then later took the e-bike out to do groceries, then came home and mowed the front lawn (15mins). Tired now!

Definitely still feeling the effects and notice the congestion in my chest, even though I’m not doing much and everything I did do was at pretty low intensity.

I guess it’s still only 2 weeks since I tested positive, but I’m impatient to start doing some exercise again. Looks like another week of only walks ahead though.

Feels like a bit of a setback today. Head congestion has cleared up over the last couple of days, but congestion is going deeper into my chest.

Woke up this morning and my HRV scores were in the toilet again, dropping to 15, which is tied for lowest ever score with the day I actually got Covid. For reference, “normal” for me is in the 70-80 range and if I woke up one morning with a score under 40 then that would be a day I’d skip any training I had planned.

Over the last week, scores have been improving into the high-40s and I’ve slowly been feeling better. Yesterday I was even thinking I’d try a short bike ride this weekend. Today, not so much. A few more really easy days on the cards yet.

Slowly getting better, but still a bit congested.

After doing two walks on Monday without issue, I took the e-bike out yesterday morning for a 10km ride visa the coffee shop. Felt good this morning, so no issues as a result of that either.

I’ll still stick to the plan of no proper exercise this week, though might do a normal bike ride at the weekend if improvement continues.

Up for a dawn walk today. Also been for lunch outdoors at a café and just back from another walk with Jacqui & visiting the rellies. Nice to be back in the world.

Cough and congestion pretty much gone now.

In terms of exercise, general consensus seems to be do bugger all for a week after your symptoms are gone, so I think this week will mainly be walks, plus a few rides on the e-bike for coffee runs etc. Will see how that feels and maybe do a short, real bike ride towards the end of the week.

Still improving. Only v. minor congestion in nose and chest remaining. Back to normal sleep patterns too.

Last day of iso today, but snuck out for a short pre-dawn walk. I’m still iso when there’s no-one around at 6am and it’s 4°C.

15min walk, fresh air, nice sunrise and back home.

Continuing to improve. Only minor nasal congestion and occasional cough left. I also have a low tolerance for work still, but not sure whether that’s a covid fogginess thing or just a very low tolerance for meetings while still not 100%.

Keen to get outside and do some exercise again, even if it will just be walks for a couple of days. One more day in iso.

Feeling much better this morning. Definitely turned a corner. Still a bit congested and have a bit of a cough, but at least starting to feel somewhat normal again.

Morning heart rate dropped 10bpm & HRV has overshot up on the upside, but no longer depressed.

It is a weird pattern on the rMSSD readings. A big hit on the 8th which must be when it gets into my system. Then two relatively normal days before taking another nosedive on the 11th when I tested positive and it’s been gradual improvement from then.

Does this mean it takes your body two days to muster defences before launching all out war on the invaders?

Definitely the sickest I’ve been in 15 years or more, but given illness for me only means an annual head cold or two, that’s not saying much. Clearly the vaccinations are doing their job and hopefully that means no long-term complications.

The only downside is that they’re now saying with the latest variants that I can be re-infected in as little as a month!

Back to mask wearing!