And I don't mean the weather...
So long and short of it is: I caught a cold.
Not surprising, considering what time of year it is, the fact that EVERYONE in my office has been sharign this little delight, or that, due to a set of perforated ear drums as a child, my sinuses are more screwed up than a box of counter-sunk inch and a quarters. (Just a little hardware humor for all of you out there.)
But despite, my cold, I've continued to run. Mind you, not very fast, but still running. And a few people have questioned whether or not that was the right thing to do... Which lead me to ask google the age old question...
Is it ok to run with a cold?
So long and short of it is: I caught a cold.
Not surprising, considering what time of year it is, the fact that EVERYONE in my office has been sharign this little delight, or that, due to a set of perforated ear drums as a child, my sinuses are more screwed up than a box of counter-sunk inch and a quarters. (Just a little hardware humor for all of you out there.)
But despite, my cold, I've continued to run. Mind you, not very fast, but still running. And a few people have questioned whether or not that was the right thing to do... Which lead me to ask google the age old question...
Is it ok to run with a cold?
Not surpising, the results to that question vary greatly depending on the source. Being a woman of science, I tend to back up those ones that use actual scientific study as their method of determination.
Active.com suggests that running with a cold can prolong the duration of the cold. Meaning, I might be able to run during my cold, but then my body won't recover as quickly, thereby reducing the quality of the runs I manage to get in. Sounds logical. Do you go for fewer, quality runs in good health or continue to train while feeling under the weather and still manage to get in your runs, knowing you're not performing at your peak? They suggest sticking to a rule that when you feel 85 - 90% better, then it's safe to resume running. Well thanks, Active.com. Because I totally know what my body's 85% healthy feels like.
OR NOT.
Slightly less than helpful.
Active.com suggests that running with a cold can prolong the duration of the cold. Meaning, I might be able to run during my cold, but then my body won't recover as quickly, thereby reducing the quality of the runs I manage to get in. Sounds logical. Do you go for fewer, quality runs in good health or continue to train while feeling under the weather and still manage to get in your runs, knowing you're not performing at your peak? They suggest sticking to a rule that when you feel 85 - 90% better, then it's safe to resume running. Well thanks, Active.com. Because I totally know what my body's 85% healthy feels like.
OR NOT.
Slightly less than helpful.
Runner's World quotes some actual scientific research, as well as personal antecdote by David Nieman, pH.D., the head of the Human Performance Laboratory at Appalachian State University. Besides being involved in actual research about the quality of performances by the human body, Dr. Nieman is also a marathoner, who follows the "Below the Neck" rule. This one states that so long as symptoms are above the neck (sinuses, runny nose, sneezing, etc.), then it's safe to continue running. Anything below the neck (coughing, chest cold, body aches) means you should take some time off. Well this logic is certainly more practical and easier to distinguish. It seems like pretty solid logic.
Runner's World goes on to reference a study done at Ball State university (Hey, I know that place!) comparing two groups of 30 runners, who were each exposed to a cold virus. While one study group continued running, the other was more sedentary, taking time off from running. In the end, there were no statistically significant differences in the duration of illness for the two groups. Meaning: Running while sick won't necessarily make your cold last longer.
(WHOO-HOO! Good news!)
Runner's World goes on to reference a study done at Ball State university (Hey, I know that place!) comparing two groups of 30 runners, who were each exposed to a cold virus. While one study group continued running, the other was more sedentary, taking time off from running. In the end, there were no statistically significant differences in the duration of illness for the two groups. Meaning: Running while sick won't necessarily make your cold last longer.
(WHOO-HOO! Good news!)
Ultimately, I've been deciding that getting up and moving for about 15 minutes a day is good for me. There's only so much sleeping in bed and sitting on the couch re-watching all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls that I can take. (And trust me, my love for Gilmore Girls knows no limits. But sometimes, ya just gotta get up and move.)
I think ultimately, it's up to each person. Do what feels best and right for you and your body. Unless a doctor specifically tells you otherwise (Which is why I avoid them to start with!), then I say go for it! Running can help get those fluids moving, get fresh blood pumping through your body and make you feel better! (Which is another point that was referenced in the Ball State study - sometimes, being active makes you FEEL better!)
So tonight, hopefully the rain disipates and I will be able to go out for my short one mile run. Just enough to clear my mind and make sure my heart is still beating.
Besides, at this point all my symptoms are above the neck anyways, and I think I feel 81%* better, which is close enough.
#runlove, y'all!
*Seriously? 81%? I just made that up. I have NO IDEA what percent better or worse I feel... How do you quantify a feeling?!?! Crackpot science, I tell you what...
I think ultimately, it's up to each person. Do what feels best and right for you and your body. Unless a doctor specifically tells you otherwise (Which is why I avoid them to start with!), then I say go for it! Running can help get those fluids moving, get fresh blood pumping through your body and make you feel better! (Which is another point that was referenced in the Ball State study - sometimes, being active makes you FEEL better!)
So tonight, hopefully the rain disipates and I will be able to go out for my short one mile run. Just enough to clear my mind and make sure my heart is still beating.
Besides, at this point all my symptoms are above the neck anyways, and I think I feel 81%* better, which is close enough.
#runlove, y'all!
*Seriously? 81%? I just made that up. I have NO IDEA what percent better or worse I feel... How do you quantify a feeling?!?! Crackpot science, I tell you what...