Running with a cough

[Tophelleborine]

Would you? I started with a viral cough about 3.5 weeks ago, and have had the full works - sore throat, earache, wheezing, feeling knackered. I'm coming out the other side of it now, but still have this annoying dry cough (not bringing up much catarrh now). I know the advice about "no symptoms below the neck" but I'm so desperate to get running again. Is this just really stupid and am I going to hamper my recovery? Thanks for any advice.

Ummm...

I had a cold before Easter. Initially I kept running but it was exhausting me so I decided to take a break.

I have just gone for my first run this morning; still had a bit of a cough, but it's the first time I've felt ready. I think you need to be honest with yourself about whether you're rushing or genuinely ready.

Yes you're right, but I'm never very good at that! I suppose I feel ok in myself, not poorly like I did last week. I might try a very slow flat jog at lunchtime and see how it feels.

I read advice that suggested that if the issue is above your shoulders it's fine to run, but below your shoulders you should have a break.

So headache, ear ache, runny nose you can carry on.

Coughs, upset stomach you should give your run a miss

Yes, I've heard this advice too. Sometimes coughs last for months though 😫its so bloody unfair, just as the weather has started to pick up. I've got a few fairly big events coming up which I'm in no way ready for. I guess I'll stick to brisk walking for now and see how things are at the weekend. Boo.

If it was me Id probably try a super slow short run to see how I felt.
If you cough up a lung then maybe stick with walking for now.

If I've had a nasty one, I'll tend to start with walking, then slow, gentle run/ walking and build up.

It's normal for a first run back to feel horrible in the muscles after any break, but you don't want to trigger coughing or get too breathless.

A fading, lingering cough is OK, but you don't want to be running on a gunged up chest or regularly couging still and you should feel pretty comfortable with normal basic activity again before trying running.

Thanks, this is really good advice.
I had short walk with a small amount of running yesterday and now have a raging sore throat and swollen glands, so I think I've got my answer (stupid face won't go away!)😌

Yeah, always have done. Gone running or done other exercise even if I had a cough. My whole life would stop if I stopped exercising only bec of a cough. I always seem to feel much better for it.

Feeling awful = no exercise, sure, I'm not up for it.
Bit of a cough & otherwise feel up for it = Live life as normal.

I ended up with a nasty one last week, not that I felt up to anything other than the gentlest yoga. Sat, I walked one of my running routes. Yesterday I did a little, gentle bike ride. Today back to running but flipped my plan for an easy run, and took plenty of water and was fine with it. Hopefully I should be able to pick the pace up later in the week.

I know I'm getting better because I'm beginning to spontaneously jiggle to the radio