“ Running While Sick Isn’ t Brave— It’ s Risky”
What’ s Your Take?
THE GREAT DEBATE
The morning of race day arrives. You’ ve trained for months, paid the registration fee, maybe even raised money for charity. But you’ ve also been sick. Whether it’ s a lingering cough or a recent bout of the flu, you’ re now faced with the question: should you still run? Two fitness enthusiasts, with very different perspectives, weigh in.
AGAINST: Dr Lena Vorster, sports medicine physician and former Provincial runner
As someone who treats athletes year-round, I see the aftermath of decisions like this more often than I’ d like. Running a marathon after or during a flu infection isn’ t just a gamble: it can be dangerous.
“ Running While Sick Isn’ t Brave— It’ s Risky”
The flu affects more than your
1. lungs. Many assume that if the fever breaks and the cough eases, they’ re good to go. But influenza is a systemic illness. Even after symptoms subside, the virus can leave lingering inflammation in the heart( myocarditis), which may not show obvious signs but can lead to serious complications, including arrhythmia or even sudden cardiac arrest during extreme exertion.
Your immune system is still
2. vulnerable. Running 42.2km puts enormous strain on your immune system. If you’ re recovering from the flu, you’ re already in a compromised state. Pushing your body through a marathon during this time may slow your recovery— or even trigger a relapse. In worstcase scenarios, runners have developed pneumonia or severe fatigue for weeks after racing while still recovering.
Dehydration and heat can
3. mask danger. During a race, the excitement, adrenaline, and physical effort can mask signals from your body. Dehydration— a common issue during marathons— can intensify post-flu symptoms. You might not feel the danger until it’ s too late.
Missing one race isn’ t failure.
4. Let’ s reframe the fear: skipping the marathon doesn’ t erase your months of training. You’ ve already accomplished something powerful by preparing. Many races offer deferral options, or you can find another race a few weeks later when you’ re fully healthy. The long-term damage of pushing too soon far outweighs the short-term disappointment of withdrawing.
Ultimately, respecting your health is the most“ athletic” choice you can make. If you’ re still recovering, especially if your symptoms were severe, or you’ re dealing with fatigue, chest tightness, or shortness of breath, sit this one out. There will always be another race. But there’ s only one you.
What’ s Your Take?
The question of whether to run after being sick isn’ t just medical— it’ s deeply personal. Some prioritise finishing what they started; others prioritise long-term well-being. The key takeaway from both perspectives is this: assess your condition carefully, consult your doctor when in doubt, and choose the path that aligns best with your health and goals.
Have you ever run a race while recovering from an illness? Was it the right decision— or one you regretted? Share your experience with us and join the conversation.
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