On Tuesday, our running group goes out and does mile repeats at a track. I can count on this like clockwork. As soon as that is over with, I get out of the car, go inside and sit down, assuming I can sit down, at home, I’ve got a runny nose, and what turns into a cold or hay fever for about a day. On Thursday, it will be gone.
However I can go out on a 10 mile run or longer than that, every other day of the week no problem. No allergies to speak of, either.
I’ve heard repeats are hard on the immune system, but I wonder if this is common or not. Have no idea.
Not Sure if this is what you are experiencing but in colder/dryer weather intense efforts can create an asthma like effect (cough, etc.) in the lungs and throat. I have felt this after a few cross races. I asked about it on a cross site and was told that it is regularly noted and discussed among nordic (cross country) skiers. Also, at the velodrome it is often called “pursuiter’s cough.” It is my understanding that it is a side effect of actual damage to your lungs
Well, I don’t often get sick anymore, but when I do feel under the weather for a day or two it seems to be the result of:
a) Swimming at end of day and then getting exposed to cold/night weather immediately afterwards if my head/neck are insufficiently covered; or
b) Doing a lot of interval/speed work as I approach my pre-race peak, especially if I do it for two days in a row (such as a fast bike day followed by a fast run day).
Like you, I never seem to get sick after a long-slow workout.
Though exercise improves your immune system over the long haul, in the short run a hard training sessions increases cortisol levels, which makes you more susceptible to catching a bug. Maybe cortisol levels increase more as a result of “short hard” efforts rather than “long” efforts? At least for you and me.
Yes…I’m not sure the exact medical term but it is basically exercise induced asthma. Sometimes if there isn’t a proper warm up period, this will be the result.