I’ve had a cold all last week that has managed to hang on all weekend. I don’t feel bad. I’m just congested in my head. Its a head cold. That’s why its still OK to train.
Chris Carmichael and I’m sure I’ve read it in various magazines from Bicycling to Mountain Bike all say that as long as your aliments are only in your head and not your chest, you should be OK to do easy to moderate training or riding.
You should not try and ride if you have chest congestion or a fever. You should also not try and train if your head congestion is severe. Your body needs its resources to fight off the illness instead of trying to build more fitness.
If you try and train while you are sick, you are putting yourself at greater risk of the illness becoming severe and getting your body behind and not able to recover after the workouts.
So my personal guide for myself is as follows. If I cannot do any one of the things on the list I don’t train:
- Can I still breath deeply and freely through my mouth without coughing?
- Do I have a fever?
- Am I dizzy?
- Do I feel nauseous?
- Am I achy or sore?
- Do I feel cold even though I shouldn’t?
All of these symptoms could mean that I am getting sicker or sick enough that I shouldn’t train. I’m not a doctor but this has worked for me and I’m sure it will work for you. Of course you should seek the recommendation of an actual doctor if you are unsure.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Levi 12.05.07 at 4:50 pm
Yeah, I used to just ride anyway, until I realized all that did was make the cold last an extra week. Now I take a little time to rest and the cold goes away much quicker
Bradly Fletchall 12.05.07 at 10:16 pm
Levi - I used to do the same thing until it derailed my training last season. I’ve learned my leason.
Travis 12.06.07 at 7:50 am
I knew a cold was coming on last week and rode outside twice and a hard hour on the trainer. I was down Sunday and Monday and still wonder if I feel well enough to ride tonight with the trainer group.
Great advice that I intend to take next time.
gwadzilla 12.06.07 at 9:03 am
yes
the loss to gain ratio is in favor of loss over gain
you more than likely will not build more fitness
but you risk getting more ill
i usually still ride through a cold
but i do not push myself
training is not really part of my vocabulary
but I did miss a cross race I was looking forward to last weekend due to a lingering cold