Who Else Gets Sick The Week After A Race?

[deleckidesign]

The last two 1/2s I have done, I get sick a few days after the race. This time a nasty head cold. It's hard to tell if it's odd timing as everyone at my work has been sick as well, or if it's related to my system recovering from the races!

I'm just now recovering from this one...the last few days have been miserable!

 

[rubato]

I have been sick for 9 days now. But, my son had an upper respiratory infection right before we left. I think that, combined with going Goofy, has done me in. I had lost my voice by Saturday night last weekend, and still don't feel good.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I always get sick after a trip to WDW ... race or not. I think it's a combination of poor nutrition, a lack of sleep and using that finger scanner to get into the parks... well that and everything else that one touches in the parks.

 

[crewmatt]

Plus you know, those plane flights. I mean seriously if you got that close to anyone under normal circumstances there'd be some kind of harassment suit filed.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Plus you know, those plane flights. I mean seriously if you got that close to anyone under normal circumstances there'd be some kind of harassment suit filed.

I think personal space in a plane is generous ... I'm use to being crammed into a subway car everyday. Do you mean to say I can file several lawsuits on the way to work? Hey, there's an idea (I'm kidding!).

 

[FireDancer]

Unfortunately for me it seems it is the week before an event that ends up getting me sick.

 

[evhorizon]

The last two 1/2s I have done, I get sick a few days after the race. This time a nasty head cold. It's hard to tell if it's odd timing as everyone at my work has been sick as well, or if it's related to my system recovering from the races!

I'm just now recovering from this one...the last few days have been miserable!

Pushing yourself hard in a race or a workout lowers your immune system. It is very common to get sick after marathons, but I'm not surprised after a 1/2M either. If you push your races hard and you know you are susceptible to illness, load up on antioxidants and Vitamin C after the race -- lots of OJ (which is good for the potassium as well), fruits/vegetables, healthy stuff. I know it sounds great to splurge on food the days after (ice cream sounds great), but if you keep it high-quality (e.g., low fat, high protein, antioxidants) you'll support your immune system while your body recovers.

After a few days, your immune system should be on the rebound and you can have that post-race splurge.

 

[Fellowship9798]

I got a terrible cold the day after a half marathon back in October and have been fighting something flu-like since 2-3 days after the full WDW marathon.

I agree that the effort and energy expended lowers the immune system and being in a theme park environment, touching all the surfaces touched by hundreds of other people, and general lack of good sleep are almost destined to do you in.

 

[JimB.]

I have had a "snot-knockin' " (literally) cold for the last 4-5 days. It really sucks. Bleh. Have not done much of anything since the Goofy.

DEFINITELY no running. A bit of weight work & tonight I managed to do 50 insanely boring minutes on an exercise bike at the Gym

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I had a cold for the 2 week before we left for WDW, but it seemed to get better while we were in FL.... only for me to come down with a completely different cold a few days after we got home. Ugh. I also blame touching all the "Disney surfaces". I got a nasty Norovirus infection last year while in WDW (see: 24 hours of things coming out both ends every 15 minutes) and so I thought I was pretty good with hand washing/sanitizing/not touching anything unnecessary/freaking out if my baby put anything gross in his mouth but apparently the "Mickey pox" still got me.

 

[TnTsParty]

Sorry to all that are sick now. That's no fun!! Hope everyone gets better soon.

For me I was sick the 2 weeks before the race - but I attribute that to being a like a kid and playing in the snow in NC. I couldn't breathe towards the end of my Christmas/New Years trip but cleared up once I got back to Florida. (knock on wood) I haven't been sick since I got back from Disney (knock on wood again!!!!)

 

[verticalchaos]

I think personal space in a plane is generous ... I'm use to being crammed into a subway car everyday. Do you mean to say I can file several lawsuits on the way to work? Hey, there's an idea (I'm kidding!).

As subway ads remind us in NYC, sexual harassment is a crime on the subway too...

 

[bounceliketigger]

My whole family gets a sinus infection almost every time we go to WDW- or at least we used to. We swear by neosporin in the nose on the plane, tons of vitamin C, and my DH sort of casually tucks his face into his shirt while dozing on the plane. I used to think he was nuts, but now I do it too & we keep the overhead vents off. Knock on wood, we haven't gotten sick in awhile.

also, Airtran does not use recirculated air in their planes, which in theory could help.

 

[deleckidesign]

My whole family gets a sinus infection almost every time we go to WDW- or at least we used to. We swear by neosporin in the nose on the plane, tons of vitamin C, and my DH sort of casually tucks his face into his shirt while dozing on the plane. I used to think he was nuts, but now I do it too & we keep the overhead vents off. Knock on wood, we haven't gotten sick in awhile.

also, Airtran does not use recirculated air in their planes, which in theory could help.

We flew Airtran, so that didn't keep the sick away for me But I had my vent on because we were roasting before take-off! I'll have to try to tuck my face into my shirt next time

 

[heatherlynn444]

we drove to Disney for the marathon, and we had to leave two days early b/c my husband got the flu 3 days after the race and I got a nasty head cold that lated 8 days! I was so sad we had to leave early, and the last day we were there we just sat around and did nothing. not fun!
I actually just wrote a blog post about being sick after a race yesterday...
http://www.runningwithsass.com/post-marathon-running/

 

[deleckidesign]

we drove to Disney for the marathon, and we had to leave two days early b/c my husband got the flu 3 days after the race and I got a nasty head cold that lated 8 days! I was so sad we had to leave early, and the last day we were there we just sat around and did nothing. not fun!
I actually just wrote a blog post about being sick after a race yesterday...
http://www.runningwithsass.com/post-marathon-running/

Heather - I've been reading your blog and that's what got me thinking about it (This is michelle from your comments section)

I'm still trying to get over this cold - it has been lingering for way too long!

 

[heatherlynn444]

Heather - I've been reading your blog and that's what got me thinking about it (This is michelle from your comments section)

I'm still trying to get over this cold - it has been lingering for way too long!

haha hello!
i still have a cough, ug!