Sick week

What I don't like about traveling for work is that I often come home and get sick. After a wonderful run last weekend, I went out for my usual Monday morning 4 miles and it felt horrible. I stopped after 2.4 miles and wondered what was going on. That afternoon it started hitting me - a head cold. Luckily, I think I kicked it pretty quickly; worked from home 2 days and ran again Friday (6 miles - felt much more normal) after 3 days off.
Tomorrow I will do an easy 15 I think (have family in town) very early. That'll make 23 for the week, a true recovery week!
Two other notes today: How difficult running that Monday was and the first few miles of my Friday run makes me realize how much my body really was affected during the 2012 Harbison run from my cold that full week before. No wonder I was practically done after 12 miles.
Also - this week got to the end of my MS Excel worksheet. Columns in my version only go to IV. That covered from Dec 2007 until now. I moved 2012 to a new tab and in another 5 years or so, I'll have to open a new one!

One more thing - I am leaning towards the October running of the New River 50k for my "other" fall race instead of the Triple Lakes 40 miler. My friend Dan already registered for it, so that is a bonus. This will go along with the Buncombe 55k (Sept) and the Camp Croft Half (Nov). A little break before my return to Harbison!

Harbison 50k race tomorrow

Wondering what causes people to DNF, or more particularly, not start an event. I understand being completely under trained, work/family priorities, serious sicknesses.
Why do I bring this up today, 12 hours before my 50k?
I have a cold.
Started trying to fight it off Tuesday after my 4.3miles in 24° weather. (Didn't feel too cold)
It was a draw thru Thursday morning. Someone asked what would it take to Not start on Saturday? Not sure, but I was not close to that.
I have only not started 3 or 4 races, I have limited knowledge.
1. My 1st Half ever. Sept 2000, Asheville Half. Was ready enough, but got into some poison ivy that week and was absolutely miserable. Drove up to get my shirt and drove right back.
2. Reedy River Run 10k 2003 or 2004. Think I had a cold and it was a cold rainy morning. May have been injured/under trained?
3,4. Marine Corps Marathons back in 2000 and 2001 or 2002. Completely under trained/injured. Fought injuries for Years until I tried the right shoe (Asics 2120's and such) back in 2007 - after 7 years of running. How ridiculous is that?!

So I got a little worse yesterday - moved more down into my throat/chest, head ached, even had achy teeth. Fever, stuffy/runny nose (and bloody noses), chills, constant tickle int he throat and annoying cough. Have mostly had an appetite though, and have gotten some sleep. The 5hrs Mon night and only 6 Tuesday night probably didn't help. Rested much of today and felt a bit better - but it gets worse as the sun goes down.
No goals for tomorrow. Hope to not have my 1st DNF. Surely this isn't enough to do it. My 50k PR streak may be over.
Good luck to all those out there and to the volunteers - you are appreciated!!

No idea how tomorrow will feel.

The head cold and a sore calf

Been taking it easy since Wednesday morning's hill run. Noticed my left calf was getting more sore as I ran, so I slowed way down the last 2 miles. That made it a little easier to skip my 6 mile tempo run Friday, but the main culprit was a head cold that started up, also on Wed. Friday was the worst so far...I needed the extra rest that morning. Still planning my 20 miler Sunday...calf seems better today.