When is it safe to start training again after a cold? I have had a cold for about 1 week. Thanks partly to decongestants my nose is clear. Unfortunatly the cold has been on my chest, where it seems to have stagnated. I am not producing shed loads of phlem, but my chest is still tight with a dry cough. I can of feel that if I when for a run it my help loosen of any gunk in my lungs and help clear my breathing (though it would probably turn me into a weezing reck. I was going to leave it another day or 2 then try a light session on the turbo - is this a good idea?
Every cold I have ends up in my chest. I often end up with bronchitis or some other chest infection. Therefore, I baby myself when I get a cold. I don’t workout until I know I’m over the worst of it and I’m not coughing (or at least very little coughing). A week of no workouts is better, in my opinion, than a month or more of half-assed ones because the cold stays on and on.
D.
I think that the general rule of thumb is that you don’t need to stop training if your symptoms are above the neck. If it’s below the neck, wait until your symtoms clear. I’m going on a week training with a head cold. Riding in 20-degree weather actually helps clear my head up.
my vote is wait more…if it’s in your lungs that tight dry cough will stay forever and hurt worse and worse. try walking. if that makes you hack, then stop and get your ass in bed.
also, as I order all of you, invite your sexiest girlfriend over to make you soup. if you’re married ask your wife to do this and tell her you’ll make up for it double time when you’re better (and she’ll know what that means.)
meow,
kc
Unfortunately, I’m the same way. I’ve read that if the illness is above the neck, that you can begin training again, but I always freaking relapse when I do that. Maybe I would or relapsed anyway, with out starting the workouts. I’ll never know. But, when I get sick for more than 3 days or so, it seems like its 3 weeks before I can really get started back again.
I’m just gettiing over a nasty cold. Folks around here, mostly inactive ones, have had it before me, and it’s taken them 6+ weeks to finally ditch the cough & nasal congestion. I took a week off, solid - nothing, no weights, no running, no riding, no swimming, no soccer - lots of sleep, Vit C and nyquil ;-).
Well, my congestion was gone within 6 days, my cough is almost all gone and it’s been 2 weeks. I swam this morning and it felt great. I used to believe the whole neck-check thing, but I tell ya, I’m healing faster than folks doing nothing, and I’m still able to get in quality workouts. So, my short answer to you is “it’s depends on you.”
It needn’t be all or nothing. If symptoms are improving, get outside for some fresh air and some low intensity activity – go for a short “hike”, play with the kids/family, walk the dog, etc. Throw in some short, easy run segments if you feel like it. Leave the watch at home. Afterwards, you will either feel worse, the same, or better. Adjust activity on the following day accordingly. Is this not common sense? I’ve used to be guilty of ignoring common sense when it came to my training schedule. I learned the hard way.
Take time off until it is out of your chest. I just took 11 days off (nothing more than walking to the mailbox) due to a nasty viral infection. I am in the middle of training for Ironman Arizona, April 9th. It practically killed me to sit on the couch and not train but this week hadbeen great. I’m back tothe training without any problems.
I did take Zicam www.zicam.com a day or so after I started feeling bad and I think that helped cut down on the duration of the symptoms but who knows for sure.
Enjoy the rest, think of it as intense recovery.
Tucker