Should I Run With A Cold/Flu?

Pflexx Knee Exerciser for Knee Pain
“Last week I came home from holidays and developed a cold which was actually the flu with sore joints, tight chest etc and I felt that a 5K run would never end so I questioned myself should I be running? I visited my local pharmacist who told me if it was above the shoulders it should be ok but if your chest was tight and your body ached then no you need to rest.” I found this information on Runners World and though it might help someone else.

Some health care professionals suggest using the “neck rule” when deciding whether to run or not. Symptoms involving the neck and below—sore throat, cough, chest congestion, bronchial infections, body aches, chills, vomiting, diarrhoea, or swollen glands—require time off from running. Symptoms above the neck—a runny nose, stuffiness, or sneezing—generally don’t require time off.

Though it’s not an exact science, running can even help with some cold symptoms because exercise releases adrenaline, also called epinephrine, which is a natural decongestant. This is why a run can clear out nasal passages. If you decide to run, keep the pace easy and stick to shorter distances.

These runs should be about maintaining your fitness while sick, not about improving it. Watch for dizziness, nausea, elevated heart rate, or abnormal sweating and stop running immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Even with precautions, training through an illness is not without risk. Runners may escalate a simple cold into something much more serious, like a sinus infection, respiratory tract infection, or pneumonia. It’s very important to listen to your body. When in doubt, sit it out because you might wind up having to take much more time off from training. (Consult with your Doctor if in doubt.)

The next question then becomes when to return to running? It’s best to wait a full 24 hours where you have no symptoms, especially after a fever, before resuming training. Try running with short, easy paced runs and rebuild distance gradually. Incorporating walk breaks into your runs can assist with adding to your fitness and distance.

Rest, drink lots of fluids, and monitor your symptoms closely. You can visit a doctor, if needed. By taking care of yourself, the odds are you will be back running again soon.