Colds/flu common for triathletes?

kingQuez

I've just come down with my 4th cold this year. While I'm probably the fittest I've ever been, this year has seen a marked increase in the amount of time I've been under the weather (usually Id catch a cold or bout of the flu once in the entire year).

A friend thats been doing triathlons for a few years mentioned (the last time I got a cold) that lot of people he knows training for tris come down with colds/catch flu/sore throats, and that it seems to go with the sport. Is this just an unlucky coincidence for his friends or is this a general trend?



disclaimer: im not looking for any medical advice here (and nobody should -- go see your doctor if you're sick);

tagoona

I remember last year (my first year training for triathlons), that I was coming down with every single bug that the kids came home with.

On reflection, that amount of training may have been too much for the body.
I'm actually training less(but smarter) this year and have been grand.

Nutrition and rest are key though.

RJC

Despite just suffering a virus I have had 3 years illness free so my experience is different. I am religious about my multivitamins and vitamin C though which may be as much to do with it than the running.

liamo

I am so tired of bloody colds this year. Normally I throw off a cold in a day or so and might get a few of them in a year. I am finding this year that either I am getting one after the other or each is lasting weeks. My training this year has taken a big jump in volume so that may be significant.

I finally had a cold-free week and thought I was finally over them then earlier this evening after my swim I started getting sniffy and it has just kept getting worse. I am now surrounded by a mountain of used tissues with no sign of any abate.

I took a couple of weeks off training earlier in the year because I though I might be overdoing it but it didn't make any difference. Maybe it's time to start looking at multivitamins and Vitamin C and see if that works.

Zapho

When I was training for the Dublin marathon last year I had at least 3 colds during the summer. I didn't actually catch a flu at all, but I do remember the colds. This year,
I've been running less milage and taking multivits and eating better and I'm cold free so far!

There definately is a trend here OP, but I've no idea why.....

hunnymonster

I've been looking at the VitC/Zn debate a bit recently with a dietician colleague of mine. For Joe Couch potato the evidence is pretty thin that there is any benefit but for anyone who ticks the above recreational exercising box(I think this was anything about 4 hours a week and perceived efforst over 6/10) there were significant benefits in supplementing with C and zinc in terms or preventing the severity of colds so it's worth considering.

Bambaata

I'm cold free so far this year. I do get a stuffy nose for about an hour after the pool and my hearing doesnt be the best but it soon clears

tunney

kingQuez wrote: »

I've just come down with my 4th cold this year. While I'm probably the fittest I've ever been, this year has seen a marked increase in the amount of time I've been under the weather (usually Id catch a cold or bout of the flu once in the entire year).

A friend thats been doing triathlons for a few years mentioned (the last time I got a cold) that lot of people he knows training for tris come down with colds/catch flu/sore throats, and that it seems to go with the sport. Is this just an unlucky coincidence for his friends or is this a general trend?



disclaimer: im not looking for any medical advice here (and nobody should -- go see your doctor if you're sick);

Most triathletes I know get sick alot too, reasons being that they over train, over race and subscribe to the school of thought that "I can eat anything I want because I do lots of exercise".

Train smart.
Race smart.
Eat smart.

And you won't get sick too often.

Ping Chow Chi

I think if you train too hard it can suppress your immune system.

Since getting three colds at the start of last year I have been taking my multivits everyday and watch what I eat and drink and (touch wood) have been OK since.

shels4ever

hunnymonster wrote: »

I've been looking at the VitC/Zn debate a bit recently with a dietician colleague of mine. For Joe Couch potato the evidence is pretty thin that there is any benefit but for anyone who ticks the above recreational exercising box(I think this was anything about 4 hours a week and perceived efforst over 6/10) there were significant benefits in supplementing with C and zinc in terms or preventing the severity of colds so it's worth considering.

Sounds good to me, I was taking vitc and zn for a while and wasnt sure it was doing anything, stopped and now have a cold, maybe nothing to do with the vit c or zn but maybe it is. Guess i'm just saying nothing here...

Spins

Berroca

TwoLegsGood

There's a fairly well documented dip in the immune system after heavy training (see here), but it basically comes down to eating and resting right, as Tunney said.

jeffontour

From what I know your immune system can be a bit run down in the immediate hours after a heavy training session(just like after a heavy drinking session but I wouldn't know about that!).

It's therefore important to be smart and avoid exposure to those with flu like symptoms etc. that may be passed to you during this time. I think those among us living in houses with kids are more likely to be exposed to this as the kids tend to be great little carriers of germs

Common sense helps as always, wrap up well and get dry asap after training/competition, eat well, rest well. But all easier said and done when life gets in the way.

lecheile

Spins wrote: »

Berroca

The one thing that I have found with Berroca and similar products is that they make me feel very ill if taken on an empty stomach. Beware!

liamo

With no relief in sight for my runny nose (and now very red) and sneezing I did some more Googling and came across a condition called "Exercise-induced rhinitis".

Depending on how my self-treatment with supplements goes I may visit my doctor and mention this condition and see what she thinks.

Anyway, here are a couple of links to get you started:
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=636
http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/524083

Or just browse some of the many Google results

billyhead

I use to come down with colds (not flu) on a frequent basis when I was training a lot. I think what others have mentioned rest and nutrition has a lot to do with it, becasue I can happily admit my diet was a joke when I went through heavy training periods, and I was only getting at most 7 hours sleep a night. Listen to your body and don't be to stubburn to take rest days

colblimp

Just be careful you haven't contracted swine flu!!!:eek:

chemicalfred

Its my first post on this section so Hi everyone.

After doing the odd run on a treadmill I finally ventured outdoors to do running last Sept. After about 6 weeks I got up to 10K. The following week I got a cold and have had a succession of them since so not much training since that. In fairness I have 3 young kids including a new baby so that is probably a factor. Have since got a load of vitamins in and have tried to get more sleep and be sensible about booze and nutrition. I hope to make a new start on the running soon but I suspect that there are an unusually large number of colds going around this year. Its a relief in a way to hear of others who have had the same problem

tunguska

kingQuez wrote: »

I've just come down with my 4th cold this year. While I'm probably the fittest I've ever been, this year has seen a marked increase in the amount of time I've been under the weather (usually Id catch a cold or bout of the flu once in the entire year).

A friend thats been doing triathlons for a few years mentioned (the last time I got a cold) that lot of people he knows training for tris come down with colds/catch flu/sore throats, and that it seems to go with the sport. Is this just an unlucky coincidence for his friends or is this a general trend?



disclaimer: im not looking for any medical advice here (and nobody should -- go see your doctor if you're sick);

I take Dr. Udos super 8 probiotics. You can get them in any health food store. They really are the business. Im not blowing my own trumpet here but I do a lot of training and I never get a cold or any kind of sickness. This particular brand are very strong and it definitely has made a difference to my immune system. I mean you could give them a go and if they dont work you havent lost a lot(25 quid a bottle). But if they work your immune system will be bullett proof.