Training while sick

Rochester Flyers is NOT Rochester Minnesota's bicycle messenger service. Rochester Flyers is NOT a cycling club or race team. Rochester Flyers is NOT a bike shop or a company. Rochester Flyers is just me, going on rides, attempting to return to racing, doing alleycats and spewing my opinion online.

Gunnar Soroos A lifelong cyclist born on the tropical island of Oahu, racing in Minnesota. His passion of cycling is combined with his faith in God to keep him focused on the real mission - the golden rule, love others as you would want to be loved. Peace.

One's first glimpse of freedom, in fact is often snatched from
a bike. By turning the pedals you can move more quickly towards
your most secret dreams.
-Bernard Hinault

I've been trying to not admit that I have a cold for a couple of days now. It started with a sore throat. Yesterday it progressed to starting a runny/stuffed up nose. This morning I'm feeling a little achey.

I've been pretty much continuing to train. Well ok. Maybe not really. Wednesday I took as a rest day, because I had a doctors appt anyway, and yesterday was a 1/2 hr moderate/hard effort on the indoor bike thingy. Today I was sort of planning to do a 1/2 hr hard effort on the gym bike, then do a quick 1 hr moderate spin on the fixedwheel after work. Then I was going to finish the week with a 50 or so dawn patrol ride at moderate intensity.

As of now I'm thinking that besides my ride to and from work (toodling speed), today will be a rest day. And depending how I feel at bedtime tonite, I may turn tomorrow into a 1 - 1 1/2 hr easy moderate spin.

I used to beleive that training through a cold was better, as the thought was the increased blood flow from riding would help your immune system get rid of whatever you have. Plus you usually feel a little better, at least for a bit after a ride.

Now, I'm not so sure this is the case anymore. I'm no doctor, so take all of this with a grain of salt, but I think training while sick will actually keep you sick longer. See, your body is trying to fight the sickness, so is already a little weaker, and then training makes it weaker still. Your body needs to recover from training and fight off the sickness, effectivily lengthining the time for both.

There's no sense in attempting to train, only to prolong being sick and not being able to put out the effort needed, and extend the time needed for recovery from each training session.

So how do you know if you're really sick enough to stop training. I'm sure we've all had very minor colds where it doesn't stop us from doing anything and is little more than a nusence. I think those are fine to train through. But I think the second you start to feel achey and/or develop a fever, you should take the day off. Again, this only my opinion. Anyway, I better get to work and finish my tasks, so that maybe I can take off early and rest at home.

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