Very sore when training resumes after cold

I’m sick as a dog right now- nasty cold. Sucks. I am dying to get outside again. Here’s the problem: Whenever I get sick and I resume training I have some pretty substantial (polite understatement) muscle soreness afterward. I do ease back into it, but it is almost incredible how uncomfortable it is. I’m not a wuss, at least I don’t hink I am, and this seems abnormal. I ask my buddies and they don’t relate similar sensations. Any ideas?

  1. Stretch, LOTS. That has a huge impact on my recovery. This is coming from someone who is not flexible, and is working very hard to correct it. It has helped me tremedously, my new flexibility.

  2. Drink LOTS of water as well.

  3. there are those recovery-specific drinks. I don’t take them - too much $$ that could go elsewhere.

You know these things already, but it does help to hear from others sometimes!

That’s a good suggestion. I appreciate it. Do I know you?

Tom,

I feel funny giving you advice because of your greater athletic experience but how about these suggestions.

I haven’t tried this but something you might want to try is taking vitamin C an hour or so before your workouts. I think Bill Phillips suggested this as a way to reduce post-workout soreness in one of his bodybuilding articles. If the C bothers your stomach you could always try “Ester C” or calcium ascorbate which is a non-acidic form.

I’m aware of the hazards of using excessive amounts of NSAID analgesics in long distance events, but for training You could also use Naproxin sodium or Ibuprofen pre or post-workout and maybe some Tylenol. I know this sounds obvious, but sometimes we all try to be so stoic about the pain in our training that we ignore using simple over the counter analgesics. Another thing that works great for me is Sports Cream or any similar product that contains Trolamine Salicylate 10% (Aspercreme etc.)

If you are sore when starting a workout some people like to take a hot shower or sit in a hot tub just for a few minutes to loosen up.

Finally, you can try yoga or massage. I’m sure you know who is good at sports massage in your area. If not I know a guy in Ypsilanti who is reasonable and terrific, email me and I’ll give you his number.

I hope some of these will be of help.

Richard

Post work out - stretch, stretch and stretch… then either use ice or a cold shower. I will typically runcold water on my legs for 6 or 7 minutes after a long run or bike. I also tend to ice isolated problematic spots (such as platers fascitis -sp?).

I follow hard workouts with a meal tipped in the carbo direction. The next is more protien heavy.

Tis regmen has improved my recover immensly. I alos try to avoid the post work out beer - but in the summer that is not always possible for me…

Hi Richard, I respect your input very much, and the vigor, enthusiasm and dedication you’ve approached the sport with. It’s always a pleasure to work with you. These are good suggestions I haven’t been doing, I appreciate them. Thank you! Best of Holidays to you my friend.

Tom, we don’t know each other, I’ve just emailed you a few times, prior to your Slowtwitch involvement. Thank you again for all your help.

Feel better, and stay warm up there…and stretch!!

Mike

Tom: Oddly, I was reading an article on this very subject a couple of days ago. I can’t find the article right now, but the reason why every muscle in your body seems to ache when you have a cold is because your bodies’ defense mechanism produces antibodies to fight the virus, but the antibodies produce a chemical that aggravates the nerves and muscles. :slight_smile: Being really sore means you have a strong immune system, and/or a really sensitive central nervous/muscle system. (This is a very rough explanation of the contents of the article and I slept at home last night. :slight_smile: )

Happy Holidays,

Robert

what a difference 3 years makes… :slight_smile: