Training & Nutrition - post-illness -- getting back into it

I was out of the saddle for 18 days. Yesterday was my first ride, and it was an unmitigated disaster. I took a pretty flat route, went slower than usual, and only rode about 14 miles -- but it felt like a hilly half-century.

How long should I expect it to take me to get back to where I was? Should I be trying to push it with hard rides? Should I be trying to ride every day, slowly increasing the intensity? Should I mix up some of both?

I have a 3-day, 220-mile charity ride in 4 weeks, so I need to get back into the swing of things ASAP.

I suppose it depends what your illness was? Have you been laid up in bed? Off your food? A fever?

All these things will determine how the illness affected your body and what you carry through now you're "recovered". It's important to build it up slowly and accept that the first few rides will hurt. In my opinion/experience. I'm not a Doctor.

Good luck with the charity ride!

First, don't freak out about it. You should be able to be back where you are in a couple of weeks unless you were out sick.

Don't try doing hard rides until you start feeling like yourself.

I agree with Eric. Take things easy and build back up to your "normal" pace and distance. Treat yourself just as you would someone you care about who has been ill for a while.