Because recently I've been asked about training with sore throats, colds, etc ... here are a few things I've learned about it over the years.
1. One of my main rules for training in autumn / winter / spring is always (and by that I mean, except when swimming, but ALWAYS) to wear a scarf. Normally a buff scarf is sufficient, but if it is below freezing temperatures, a lined neck scarf can also be used when cycling. If I trained without it, I would get a sore throat and, as a result, an inflammation of the pharynx within a very short time, which would have made further training unnecessary.
2. If you are wearing neck protection and still get a scratchy throat, then caution is advised. Combined with hard or long sessions lasting a few days, the body gives a warning signal here. It means something like: go back and relax. Incidentally, this can also happen in summer, when it is guaranteed to be a sign of gradual overload. If you continue training here without consideration, you will also take a break in the shortest possible time, but in the form of a compulsory break lasting several days.
3. Emergency program for sore throat. First: reduce training and second: drink lots of hot tea! This allows the pharynx to recover faster. Also, no alcohol, it makes things worse (believe me!) And generally drink a lot so that bacteria cannot linger in the throat for long. Fresh air: Tilt the window at night while sleeping. Dry heating air dries out the throat area more and more. Then, of course, wrap up thicker in bed, especially in winter 😉
4. Is an absolute break necessary? - not always!
In competitive sports it is said that loose (not intensive) training is possible with the "upper" neck, but not with the "lower" neck!
The upper neck here denotes the mouth / nose / throat area. Symptoms: sore throat, slight mucus formation and runny nose (runny nose). The risk of pneumonia increases in the "lower" neck !! So if you have a sore throat! (Difference from scratching the throat), strong mucus formation (dark color), difficulty swallowing and a feeling of exhaustion. Then by no means do exercise !! Otherwise it will get worse at 100%.
If you have a fever, or if you are cold, have aching limbs or are simply completely flat, then it is just stupid to exercise. A sick body does not absorb any training stimuli. A friend of mine went on the notorious mountain tour around here while taking antibiotics this spring, the end of the story: pericarditis. One cannot say with certainty whether he will ever return to the old level of performance, since the cardiac output is permanently reduced due to the inflammation. Incidentally, such actions can also lead to sudden cardiac death.
But you don't get that far if you take some of the thoughts to heart. If you do get sick, always remember: Triathlon is not the center of the world.
But so that it will soon be like that, we will continue to train hard and I'll get on my mountain bike this afternoon.
Stay healthy and rock`n roll!
krelli