Illness and running

amy44107
amy44107 Posts: 2
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all - I started getting sick over Memorial Day weekend, with a sore throat. It transformed into a nasal and chest congestion-type illness, which I started a 10-day antibiotic regimen for a week ago. Before that, I had been in the last week of a couch to 5k training program. So my question is this: I am still coughing a bit, though with far less frequency than before; is it okay to start running again? I know the general rule is above the neck, good to go, below the neck, wait, but I've been down for so long I'm starting to go crazy.

Replies

  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    If it's still in your chest, you should wait. A couple more days is not going to reduce you fitness by much, but coming back too soon and being forced out for another week to 10 days certainly will. Keep it in perspective.
  • jlcl119
    jlcl119 Posts: 51
    Unless I have a high fever I run. For me, running also helps clear out all that gunk in my chest when I'm sick.
    Ty it, if you feel worse you can just stop.
  • cari4jc1
    cari4jc1 Posts: 233
    It's funny, I was actually just listening to Jillian Michael's podcast this morning and a caller had a question just like this. She had been sick and wanted to know if it's okay to workout while you're sick. The answer was to NOT workout while sick because your body needs all that energy to get better. If you exercise while you're sick your body can't recover from the workout because it's trying to fight being sick. She said to wait until you're all better and then start again otherwise it could take even longer to get better.
  • brandyk77
    brandyk77 Posts: 605 Member
    i normally will still run unless I am dizzy, having severe GI issues or cannot breathe. If I have a head cold or something similar, I finish that running makes me feel better.
  • emmygrace2012
    emmygrace2012 Posts: 44 Member
    I follow the "neck rule"

    If your symptoms are above the neck (headache, congestion, runny nose) it is okay to work out.

    If your symptoms are below the neck (body aches, chills, fever, GI issues) skip until you've recovered.
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