Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 61, August 2014 | Page 35

Can
Run vs
Shouldn’t
Run

body science

Ma

Runners don’t like to skip workouts or training
sessions when they’re ill, and are even more
loathe to miss a race that they had planned,
but at this time of year, colds and flu are par
for the course. Here’s how to decide when you
should take a sick day from running.
– BY SEAN FALCONER

The general rule of thumb applied by many
runners is called the ‘Neck Rule:’ Symptoms
below the neck (chest cold, bronchial infection,
body ache) require time off, while symptoms
above the neck (runny nose, stuffiness,
sneezing) don’t pose a risk to runners, who
should be okay to continue training, as long as
you don’t push yourself too hard, and definitely
not past your normal limits. However, the
doctors say that you should still err on the side
of caution, as training with anything worse than
a minor cold can escalate into more serious
conditions affecting the lower respiratory tract
and lungs.

FOLLOW YOUR NOSE
For example, a sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an
inflammation of the sinus cavity, with symptoms
that include a runny nose, cough, headache and
facial pressure. With a full-blown sinus infection,
you rarely feel like running, but if you do want
to continue training, the experts recommend
a 72-hour waiting period. “No running for

three days,” advises allergist/immunologist Dr
Jeffrey Dobken. “Even without the presence of
a fever, some sinus infections, when stressed by
exercise, can lead to pneumonia or, in extreme
cases, respiratory failure.”

from soaring, and in some cases, this can
cause an irregular heartbeat. Also, a virus can
cause your muscles to feel sore, so exercising
when your muscles are already compromised
could lead to injury.

Because winter weather increases the risk
of sinusitis - the nasal passages and mouth
lose moisture, causing irritation – the doctors
recommend including treadmill running in your
winter training regimen, or pool running. “The
water adds moisture to nasal passages, but pool
running is preferable to swimming, because
chlorine can be irritating to the nose,” says Dr
Dobken.

“I recommend that runners with a fever or the
flu hold off until the day after the symptoms
disappear – and then only go for a short, easy
run,” says Dr Nieman. “You should wait one
to two weeks before resuming your pre-illness
intensity and mileage, otherwise you risk a
relapse, and most importantly, obey your
body and the thermometer, not your training
programme!”

THERMOMETER TEST
If you’re still in doubt about whether it’s safe to
run or not, take your temperature. If it’s above
37 degrees Celsius, rather ͭ