long runs = coldsore?

godblessourhome
godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
about a month ago, i ran 7 miles. the next day i got several cold sores. i didn't make a connection to the running because i get them when i am stressed and my in-laws had just left after a 'busy' (read stressful) weekend. a few weeks later, i ran 9.5 miles and again got several cold sores the next day. yesterday, i had another long run and this morning i woke up with another round of cold sores. yuck!

has this happened to anyone else?

what am i doing that might be causing it? i breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. i reapply a chapstick every two miles or so because my lips get really dry. i used a different chapstick for each week. what can i do to prevent it? before this outbreak, i haven't had a cold sore in probably 4 years.

Replies

  • elledo
    elledo Posts: 80
    I get cold sores for a variety of reasons, including very cold, windy weather, stress, sunburn and being rundown. Are you running in the cold? In very windy or sunny conditions? Are you eating enough nutritious food to prevent you from becoming rundown? There are so many factors!
  • jaxCarrie
    jaxCarrie Posts: 214 Member
    Take L Lysine (a pill) the day before, during and after each run.....that helps when I'm in situation where they 'flare' up....like elledo....it's usually when it's cold/windy or when I get sunburned....and stress, glorious glorious stress plays the biggest role for me.
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
    I don't know what causes them, but I get them sometimes. I take a tablet of a supplement called Lysine at the first sign and poof, gone. Available at most stores in the vitamin area. Wish I could help more.:flowerforyou:
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
    jaxCarrie you read my mind! :smile:
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Cold sores are caused by a variant of the herpes virus and once you're infected you've got it for life.

    In the vast majority of people who carry the virus it remains dormant for years at a time, outbreaks can be brought on by stress, cold weather or anything else that temporarily suppresses your immune system. Guess what, there is a correlation between long runs and a suppressed immune system. in a nutshell if you run long enough to seriously deplete your glycogen stores your body burns some amino acids in its place which, in turn, is believed to cause a decline in immune system function.

    Moral of the story - eat carbs the day before your long run and for breakfast that day and take gels or sports drink during the run to restore some of the depleted glycogen and don't let your mother-in-law stay for extended periods of time.
  • nemsmom
    nemsmom Posts: 48
    It could be the chap stick it's self. I can't use any anymore. I get a cold sore from a brand new tube of every kind I try! Also if it's not the chap stick and you can use it, do you apply it with your finger instead of straight from the tube? That way if you have one that for whatever reason you haven't noticed is coming on (every once in a while I, very stupidly, ignore that tell tale itchy lip) you don't contaminate your chap stick.

    Also the wind of you running that is drying out your lips could be the cause even though you use chap stick.

    Or the long run might be too much stress on your body. Do you normally run and this is just your long run, or do you only do these long runs?

    Hope maybe something in here helps!
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
    thanks everyone for the replies! it sounds like it just might be the stress of a long run that is causing it. i will look for some l lysine and see if that helps. i will also improve my nutrition before long runs. :)
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