Should I run with a cold?
A few of us in the office have come down with a case of the cold - I feel like utter shite, and barely got out of bed this morning. Feeling run down leaves me with a bit of a question - should you exercise while feeling tired / ill? I know that people recommend getting more exercise if you're constantly feeling tired, but would it speed up your recovery time or slow it down if you go for a run with a cold? Let's ask Mr. Google (or, The Google as some people call it):
Did you feel like going to work or school or doing chores today? If no, you probably should not run. If you weren't well enough to go to work or do whatever it was you should have been doing on a normal day, then you shouldn't be well enough to run. Also, if you did go to work and you felt horrible all day, you probably shouldn't be pushing yourself by running, when you could be resting.
Taken from About.com
I feel bad enough to almost not go into work, so chalk one up to "No, don't go out". Let's see what other people are saying:
Exercise definitely affects the immune system which is fighting whatever viral infection you have. High intensity exercise (such as heavy weight lifting or high heart rate cardiovascular training like cycling, rowing, running & aerobics) has been linked with suppressing the immune system1. Which means that if you workout at a high intensity you may actually be making things worse!
Taken from CoolRunning.co.nz
Finally, a quick mooch over at some Running / Jogging forums turns the following up:
"My basic rule of thumb is that if I feel well enough to eat then I am well enough to run."
"I run with a cold because I always feel better after the run then I do before. It helps to clear my head and I think, or at least I feel, like I get over the cold faster."
With that in mind, I'll head out and see what happens. Maybe try and hit 2 miles and call it a day...
- 24th October, 2006
- Running.
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