Running with a cold - General running

Xerxes

18/09/2002 at 12:42

If one has a cold (not flu, pleurasy or pneumonia, just an avergare cold). Should one run as normal, or light. Or is one risking developing a humdinger of a cold? Although a snotty conk makes breathing difficult initially, I find that I breathe through my mouth mostly, and that once warmed up I do not notice the cold much until later on.

Scotty.

18/09/2002 at 13:02

If it's a chest cold - absolutely not. Your lungs won't like you, you'll risk prolonging the symptoms and any excercise during this time won't actually be of any benefit anyway.

Head colds aren't a problem. Like you say, a sniffle can be run through.

Being a lazy so and so I use any cold as an excuse to hang my running shoes up for a few days.

If you are suffering right now Tim I hope you feel better soon.

Xerxes

18/09/2002 at 13:07

Thanks Scotty. No it is not a chest cold, just the head (so far at least). OK, might try run tomorrow or maybe tonight if I am feeling very keen.
Since I have been running in the morning this past month, it doe snot make it esier to get up when one's head feels pressurised, and one's nose is blocked and/or drippy.

Doobs

18/09/2002 at 13:15

I agree with Scotty - if it's only snot your probably ok. If at all shaky/shivery or even sore throat then I wouldn't run.

Grollying with a cold can be really satisfying - as long as no-one gets inthe way! Without wanting to sound really disgusting, I discovered the benefits of blowing my nose on my t-shirt on my last long run (n.b. I didn't have a cold just normal running nose). Anyone else own up to doing this??

Xerxes

18/09/2002 at 13:16

I hardly ever wipe my nose on my running T shirt, let alone blow my nose. Nor do I do the projectile nose blow that is truly yuk. I just give a good sniff and swallow the result...

Scotty.

18/09/2002 at 13:23

Doobs,
Grollying (excellent expression).I could recall incidents of being hit by other runners' flying flobb !! Might save that for a Friday though as it's grossing me out again.

Having said that; I have been impressed by the ability of some runners to blast the contents of a nostrel with easy precision without missing a step...or their target.

Scotty.

18/09/2002 at 13:28

Tim,

I'm with you on the not spitting front. I'm sure that it's not just down to bad manners but maybe there is a reason why so many people need to spit and others don't (former chimney sweeps maybe ??).

Sore Toes

18/09/2002 at 13:33

come on chaps, I'm trying to eat my lunch as I read this!

Scotty.

18/09/2002 at 13:40

Isn't this the same Jo who asked 'How to stretch buttocks'. Now there was an image I could have done without.

Doobs

18/09/2002 at 17:08

Sorry - I'm for spitting. I've only discovered it recently but when you've got to that stage in the run where your saliva is all clogging up through dehydration it really helps. Swallowing just doesn't clear it as well. Perhaps I should drink more water..

The Dog Walker

18/09/2002 at 17:12

Got to say I'm with Doobs on this. I try my best to do it discretely, but I find gobbing it out is the only thing to do!

Hope you're all enjoying your smoothies out there...

Sore Toes

18/09/2002 at 21:42

Yes Scotty it is, but don't you prefer buttocks to snot ??

Xerxes

19/09/2002 at 11:55

Is "to snot" really a verb? Yuk!

Scotty.

19/09/2002 at 12:07

I've done 3 x 20 mile runs in the past 6 weeks and didn't feel the need on any run to either gob, flobb, hoich a loogie or indeed swallow a smoothie. Does this make me some sort of freak and should I be making more of an effort in the catarrh creation factory ? i.e. cheap fruit juice always leaves me throaty. hmmm

I read in RW, when I first started running last year, that you should spit regularly. This to me implied that everybody did it. There has to be some biological difference between us that do and them that don't. Discuss ???

Jo - yes I do prefer buttocks.

Scotty.

19/09/2002 at 12:09

Of course I meant : Us that don't and them that do. i.e. us being the good guys

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

19/09/2002 at 12:15

I think I once read, that:

Blowing your nose when you have colds just makes the cold worst – it forces the mucus infected with nasty germs back into your sinuses where it can multiply and make your cold wost

So I’m a hack and spit person

Will

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

19/09/2002 at 12:15

Altogether now

SNIFF – HACK & SPIT

:o)

Lycra Kitten

19/09/2002 at 12:45

Urrgghhh!

Dangly Spice

19/09/2002 at 13:51

Is this a male thing or do females do it as well? I've noticed a few of the younger females having a spit but the more mature (and sensible) types don't seem to. where as most of the men seem to do it.
Physiological differences, or what?

I usually reckon if the cold is above the throat - run with it. Once it goes into the tonsils or down, take time off.

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

19/09/2002 at 13:56

If my cold reaches my tonsils, I’m in serious trouble – some one whipped them out when I was a kid