Kaz you're doing TOTALLY the right thing by resting up. I know (oh HOW i know!!) how annoying it can be when you feel like you're on a roll and then you get a cold or something and have to take a break but if you don't rest you can end up dragging the cold out for a lot longer.

As for exercise keeping you healthy...it depends on a lot of things i think. If i eat REALLY well - i mean ALL wholefoods, NO refined sugar, 9+ fruit and veg/day, i keep very well and don't get ill, but i enjoy life too much to restrict myself from having ANY treats. I also find if i don't have at least 1 day a week off exercise i tend to get ill more. Rest and get well, it's the best thing to do.

Longer-term, when your fitness is much much better, you might find you recover faster than you used to from illness. My sinus infections still come on, but they're gone in a few days rather than dragging on for weeks.

Cece LOL, i admit some days i have to FORCE myself out to run, but i always feel better for it after, and if i don't do a run i planned to do, i go to bed feeling a bit disappointed. Lol. Your hydration and warming up sounds great and it is important for everyone to let their body get warm before they begin the serious task in hand - it's so hilarious when you get to running longer distances. When i was training for the half marathon i was running 2 miles JUST TO WARM UP, and then stretching and THEN doing "the run". Lol. Try the potassium and see if it makes a difference too.

I ran 7k on Sunday when DD was at XP's. Felt crap for the first 2k but felt great for the rest of the run. It took me about 40minutes which is GREAT as it takes me 50 with the buggy which means with the same effort i am able to do down 5mins38ish/km, from 7mins6secs/km with the buggy! And that was my easy pace, not race pace

Bx