Eric Redard

Hey All:

My allergies have been really bad lately or I have a cold. I don't have a fever, just a stuffy head. I've been riding as usual, just using a lot of tissues on the road. I'm going to go to the doctor tomorrow to get checked out.

Wondering if any of you train through colds? I don't feel run down, just stuffy. Any thoughts?

Peace.
Eric

ericgu

The usual rule is that if the cold is in your head, it's okay to exercise, but if it goes into your chest, you shouldn't.

SandySwimmer

+1
It applies with running also, but it's better not to swim.

Sometimes it's good to take two days off from exercise just to let your body mend, so all of its energy goes to getting over the cold. If you push it too much it can easily turn into something worse. Things like cold-ease cough drops and Zicam nose spray can help. Also, local honey with turmeric.

And, lots of water and rest (naps).

timmhaan

i tend to cut back the intensity but still ride.

Logistics

When I had a cold back in March, my doctor recommended that I should avoid intense workouts and rides in cold weather as it would make the cough worse. However, he did mention that low intensity workout were okay as long as the cold was getting better and not worse during the duration of the cold.
I would personaly recommend using a trainer and stay indoors if it is a cold to avoid using your clothes as a snot rag and if you get fatigued you can simply stop. But, that's just me. I would also say that if it is a cold to stay away from Zicam Cold Remedy nasal spray as it can permanently lose your sense of smell from inhaling zinc, however, the Zicam Cold tablets are really good.
But, anyway, I would say listen to your doctor as he/she will know what's best for you.

GuitarWizard

I couldn't tell if I was coming down with something over the weekend either, and subsequently didn't ride for 3 days. I'm still stuffy, I have to "pop" my ears and the slight sore throat I had seems to be going away (but that wasn't really cold-related). I had no urge to really ride until today, so I didn't. I felt ok riding, although it took a bit to warm up. The 25 mph wind gusts didn't help too much either.

ggusta

OK, let me add a wrinkle here. I am pretty new to training. I felt like garbage Sunday, sinuses and sore throat. I did Tempo intervals Monday, pretty intense but not really killer. And then today I was supposed to do my recovery (Tuesday). Felt too lousy to do anything and if I continue to feel like this I won't be going to work tomorrow. So Here I am, too ill to do the recovery. So let's say I don't do anything till Thursday, do I do a recovery or do I go back to where I would have been (Tempo)?