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General

Should I Run When I’m Sick?

  • Kerrie

Run, hack, hack, hack run.


I have a stupid, stupid cold. I mean this cold is really lame.

It started as a little sore throat last Tuesday night. Not bad at all. I thought, This’ll be gone in like two days. Mr. T still had it after a week (and it had morphed into a cough), but I thought, I run. I take a multivitamin plus vitamin C. I’ll be better way faster than he is.


Yeah, we both still have it. But I’m in the thick of it now.

Of course, I’m not sure if I should or should not run and/or exercise. Despite the cold, I managed almost 23 miles this week ending with a long run of 9 miles Friday on. the. treadmill. (Brainless Bring It On is pretty much a great treadmill movie.) Sunday, I got to wondering if all that running while sick was a smart thing to do. Or not.

So I looked it up and found this great Runner’s World article about running while sick (HERE). I liked what one of the doctors said:

“David Nieman, Ph.D., who heads the Human Performance Laboratory at Appalachian State University, and has run 58 marathons and ultras, uses the ‘neck rule.’ Symptoms below the neck (chest cold, bronchial infection, body ache) require time off, while symptoms above the neck (runny nose, stuffiness, sneezing) don’t pose a risk to runners continuing workouts.” (Should You Run When You’re Sick? by Marc Bloom, Runner’s World, 2004)

I think I’m all above the neck, so I think I should be okay as long as I don’t overdo it. An article in the Running Times points out (HERE): “Pushing too hard may prolong the course of the illness and increase the potential for complications.”

I put my running stuff out for a Monday morning run, but I’ve been feeling pretty crummy in the mornings, so we shall see. I may have to pull a treadmill run out later in the day. I do really want to run, though, because 1) it makes me feel better mentally and 2) I’m eating like a bear getting ready to hibernate.

What do you do when you’re sick? Rest or run?

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13 comments
  1. Alma says:
    October 17, 2011 at 5:41 am

    YOu need to get better so we can run for cupcakes on Saturday!

    Reply
  2. Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem: A Runner's Blog says:
    October 17, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Ugh! hope you feel better soon, I hate not running just because I am sick, seems silly, even when I know better.

    Reply
  3. Marlene says:
    October 17, 2011 at 11:22 am

    I never quite know whether to run or nit when sick. If my energy level is okay and I don't feel like it's a very “chesty” cough, I will generally run.Hope you feel better soon!!!

    Reply
  4. fancy nancy says:
    October 17, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Sometimes I find that sweating it out helps me feel better. I hope you are doing much better today! Love that you said you are eating like a bear!! I get the same way in the Fall!!

    Reply
  5. SupermomE12 says:
    October 17, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    I run when I am sick unless I have a fever or icky chest. Otherwise I really think it helps me feel better. Sorry you are sick and hope your cold goes AWAY soon!!

    Reply
  6. L.B. says:
    October 17, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    I saw that “Neck Rule” before too. I'd kinda agree with that. I mean, ultimately you know your body and you listen to your body so if it's telling you one thing, you're probably gonna go with it. I'd just suggest not feeling like you have to do something, either take a rest or go on a run. I mean, don't feel guilty the next day over your choice. For instance, if you set a goal of xx miles for the week, don't feel bad because you took the day off; just re-adjust your goals accordingly. Anyway, hope you feel better soon.

    Reply
  7. Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner says:
    October 17, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    I stick with the same “above the neck” rule. But even then I lower the intensity and take it easy. Hope you're feeling better soon!

    Reply
  8. Jerilee E. says:
    October 17, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    I stick with the “above the neck” rule, too. I got a cold a few weeks ago and kept running- then it turned into bronchitis so I had to cut it out until it went away. Keep with the vitamin C. It seemed to help me. I hope you both feel better soon!

    Reply
  9. Caroline says:
    October 17, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    I do run if I have a coldbut not if it goes in the chestthe neck rule…always

    Reply
  10. {lifeasa}RunningMom says:
    October 17, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    I try to stick to the neck rule too but not always. I have run with a nasty cough but it was an oddity. I couldn't stop coughing throughout the day but during my runs I was perfect! I picked up the miles just to have relief!!!Each case is different, listen to your body. It knows.

    Reply
  11. Christine says:
    October 18, 2011 at 10:56 am

    It depends, if it is just in my head (headache, running nose,…) I run and hope will I will sweat it out. If my whole body aches and I just feel tired, I'll take rest days. Just listen to your body and do what feels good 🙂 I hope you feel better soon!

    Reply
  12. XLMIC says:
    October 18, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    For me, I rarely run when I am sick. It can wait. But I am old now. When I was younger, I got my training in come hell or high water. So glad I don't feel that pressure any longer 😛

    Reply
  13. Glenn Jones says:
    October 20, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    You have enough base built that taking a few days off to get better is probably the right thing to do. Hope you're feeling better!

    Reply

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