Dear internets, help! This is my first time sick since I've been running regularly (I have sore throat/cold/fever from sleeping way too little in the past few weeks and spending over 48 hours on planes and at the airports), and I don't know how I should approach running. Yesterday, I felt better in the morning, so I ventured out for a short run, which made me feel like a normal human for a few hours after it, but by the afternoon I was feeling like crap again. Today, my head is way too fuzzy to attempt any such thing. So, I ask the internets:
Do you continue your work out programs when you get sick, or do you stop them until you get better? Is a little activity good when one feels like laying on the couch all day, or should it be completely avoided until one gets back to feeling better?
On another note, today (unlike the last 3 days), I seem to have the (not to be underestimated) luxury of a grad student to work from home as there seems to be no meetings on my calendar! (I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get an email titled "meeting starting NOW" this afternoon, in which case I will have to rush to school). I seem to be sort of capable of going through some of the more mechanical tasks on my list, but anything involving thinking or writing seems utterly impossible (even writing this post has been a challenge for my fuzzy head).
Edited to say: I sensed the force in the air, so I decided to come in to work in the afternoon and am now vegetating in front of my computer at work. Don't come bothering me unless you want to be coughed at!
The perverse incentives of academia
6 years ago
8 comments:
One rule of thumb I've heard is that anything below the neck rules out exercise, but if all you have is above the neck symptoms, feel free to go running. i.e. head cold and sore throat - you're fine. The above plus chesty cough and/or fever - don't go running!
Obviously this depends on the severity of the symptoms above the neck! Personally I tend not to bother with exercise if I'm feeling crappy.
Hope you feel better soon!
i run even when sick, but i'm neurotic. i would recommend keeping a light schedule when you're sick. you don't want to make yourself sick for longer.
My rule is that running is OK if it is in my head and no fever. Fever and/or chest stuff, cough, etc. means time to rest.
Feel better!
my rule is that is depends on how i feel. if i feel like running might not be too much for me, then i go. if i think about running and mentally groan and hide under covers then i don't. i've been known to run with head colds, fevers, chest colds etc... but i felt like i could handle it. other times, i stayed home, slept a lot and didn't bother til after i was recovering.
honestly, i feel like my personal stress levels might have something to do with that decision. if i'm really stressed and sick, i run (or do the elliptical machine...less bouncy)... good luck and feel better :)
I'll usually dial down my workout a notch or 2 when I'm sick. The exceptions are migraines (because I can't really do much of anything when I have one), fever, and anything in the chest. Although stupidly I did work out when I had pneumonia, but in my defense, it was before I knew I had it.
Thank you all for your get well wishes and the running advice!
My cold has moved into my chest and I have to medicate my fever so I can go to work, so no running for me today. Although my stress levels are prompting me to run (and feeling sick and unproductive is not helping!), I think I will limit myself to walking or short easy runs this weekend.
Like the others I would suggest limiting your exercise, which it sounds like you are doing. I find that when I'm sick I take a break but then it's really hard to start up again. So my logical self thinks it would be good to keep to a schedule but walk or tone down the duration of the work out.
feel better soon.
Jennie - thanks! I actually ended up postponing the running, and I am yet to see how difficult starting back up will be.
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