Ask the Coach (cough...cough...sniff)

Ah, Spring! Those lovely sun-filled morning runs with the cool air breezing by your bare arms (finally-tank tops and shorts weather!). I just love this time of year for running. I think my Tuesday Morning Maniacs appreciated it, too, since they had some half-mile repeats in the Park at 6:30am this week. Those are just not fun once the humidity bears down on all of us in July. Something to look forward to...

...I digress. I was thinking about how much I love Spring and everything that goes along with it except for when all of my clients and runners get sick and bring their germs to our workouts to share with everyone else, namely ME. So, here's the question I get all the time:

Q. Should I run/workout when I'm sick?

A. Eh, if you feel up to it. A good rule of thumb for the common cold/flu is: If your symptoms have settled in the neck area or above and you feel up to it go ahead and take a nice, leisurely jog. Nothing crazy, but moving around might actually help make you feel better. Generally strength training isn't high on the list of priorities because anaerobic exercise requires so much more power and your body usually just doesn't have it to give when you're under the weather. If you're too pooped to make it through a full day of work, let alone more than a mile of running, don't force yourself. Here's the skinny on why you're so very tired when you are sick:

A virus attacks your immune system (fight like the dickens, little white blood cells, FIGHT!) and your body is working to battle off what you've got and build up an immunity to ever getting it again. This is precisely why your core temperature can be elevated. You have a fever and, no, cowbell won't help. However, rest will help. Your body cannot be expected to function at 100% strength and endurance levels when there is a war within. When in doubt, it's a good idea to give those little soldiers a rest and let your DVR do some work.

When to absolutely not run, workout or come in contact with humans other than your significant other (they are obliged to feed you during your time of peril) or roommate (not so much obliged to provide food as they are just in the line of fire):

-You have a significant fever (usually over 99 degrees) which may or may not be accompanied by the chills
-You haven't been able to keep regular amounts of food down
-You have problems with one end or another (you know what I'm talking about)
-You're too dizzy, short of breath, or nauseated to complete everyday activities
-Your doctor tells you to rest
-You are projectile coughing, sneezing or anything else-there are people out there who don't want to get what ever you got
-You are too tired to get off the couch and turn off the reruns of "90210" (which we can all agree is awesomely bad, but still BAD)

When in doubt, rest. I promise you won't lose all of the training you've done up until the H1N1 Virus took hold of your body. It may take you a week or so after being sick to feel normal during your workouts but give yourself a break and remember that viruses last a whoooooole lot longer when you push too far too soon.

Run hard, friends!!

Coach Abby