General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Getting sick more often... Rss Feed  
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2006-09-23 9:57 PM

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2006-09-23 10:03 PM
in reply to: #549964


8763
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Boulder, Colorado
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...

This is a pretty complex question. First off your training plans needs to add stress each week at a rate that your body can handle. This is called periodization and an example would be weeks of 10 hours, 12 hours, 8 hours. The 8 hour week would be the rest week.

More importantly imo is the amount of sleep that you get and how well you eat - I find that for most AGers if they could get more sleep, they would get sick less often and improve their fitness as well.

Hope this helps.

2006-09-24 8:42 AM
in reply to: #549964

Extreme Veteran
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Hoboken, NJ
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...

Hey Kris...

 There was a point when I was first running long distances that I would regularly get cold-like symptoms the day after a long run.  I always assumed my immune system was low after the hard effort (never verified this with a doctor or anything).  It just stopped happening after a while and now I very rarely get sick at all...

I never modified my training, just kept doing what I was doing and the symptoms stopped as (I assume) my body got used to the effort.

2006-09-24 8:55 AM
in reply to: #549964

Veteran
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Florida
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
I actually had this happen right after my Olympic race (previously, I had just done sprint distances)...I got sick immediately afterward...

You may be ramping up your training too quickly, and yes, sleep is always the most important thing...you require more sleep when you exercise a lot...

Good luck!!

PS- If you can update your logs, we can see how much you've been doing...at the beginning of your trianing, (IMO) it shouldn't be any more than an hour a day...

Edited by tbctbc 2006-09-24 8:56 AM
2006-09-24 9:28 AM
in reply to: #549967

Coach
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
mikericci - 2006-09-23 10:03 PM

This is a pretty complex question. First off your training plans needs to add stress each week at a rate that your body can handle. This is called periodization and an example would be weeks of 10 hours, 12 hours, 8 hours. The 8 hour week would be the rest week.

More importantly imo is the amount of sleep that you get and how well you eat - I find that for most AGers if they could get more sleep, they would get sick less often and improve their fitness as well.

Hope this helps.

This is very important! Until I began really paying attention to what I eat and adding naps whenever possible, I was usually battling some sort of sickness and/or fatigue all the time.

2006-09-24 9:42 AM
in reply to: #549964

Champion
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Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...

I would agree it's not enough sleep and/or ramping-up in volume too much.  My 2 and 3 year old are starting school and all those other social activities-that means they are routinely (at least once a month) getting colds and flu's and bringing something into the house.  If I get my requisite amount of sleep and maintain my training volumes (not building much), I won't get sick - and I used to if I fail in sleep or overtrain!  I have avoided the last 3 plagues that befell my entire family. If anything, I just lose a little energy for a few days as my body 'tries' to get sick, but I'm quickly over it and never go full symptom.

Of course this means I'm going to be laid-out for a week the next time they get sick! 



2006-09-24 11:03 AM
in reply to: #550081

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2006-09-24 11:14 AM
in reply to: #549964

Veteran
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Florida
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
oh my gosh!!

You are doing a ton of stuff...how many weeks have you been training, and how many minutes a week does that add up to? I'm guessing around 10 hours (600 minutes?) How quickly did you ramp?

I've been training for four months and I don't do nearly that much...

Are you training for an Olympic? or a sprint?
2006-09-24 11:21 AM
in reply to: #549964

Veteran
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Stoughton, WI
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
echo above

waaaaaaay too much. Eat more, sleep more, play with your kid more. Most often I think quality counts more than quantity.

Are you by chance an alpha personality type I think most triathletes are (btw), but being an alpha dog doesn't give you license to overextend and overdo!

enjoy more work less!!
JB
2006-09-24 11:23 AM
in reply to: #549964

Elite
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DC Metro, slowly working my way to NC
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
Eat & sleep - those are key.  I know whenever I am not eating enough to keep up with the activity levels I end up getting sick. 
2006-09-24 1:40 PM
in reply to: #549964

Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...

Wow.  Not to belabour the point.. but you're doing a LOT of training for a beginner.  You're doing about twice the volume I do, and I've been training for 1.5 years (and have several races under my belt).

If you're not sure about what kind of training you should be doing, I would check out the many training plans available on this site.  They're formulated to increase your volume in each sport at a rate where you're unlikely to get injured or sick.  And yes.. sleep.  Sleep lots.  Play lots.  Make sure you have rest days at least once or twice a week. 



2006-09-24 1:44 PM
in reply to: #549964

molto veloce mama
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Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
in 'running times' magazine, there is a great article about training, racing, and immunity. pick up a copy.

i was sick twice this year - stomach/intestinal virus in may/june, and bronchitis in august. i have no doubt it was due to my increased training for the HIM. listen to your body.

if you are getting sick, you are probably overtraining. take a couple days off, do some lower intensity workouts if you really want to work out. drink plenty of water. eat right (lots of veggies). take vit-c. use a recovery drink. wash your hands a lot. most of all, listen to what your body is telling you. it doesn't mean you should stop, but you should look carefully at what you are doing in the big picture - training, rest, sleep, nutrition, hydration, etc.
2006-09-24 5:06 PM
in reply to: #550112

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2006-09-24 5:19 PM
in reply to: #549964

Regular
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NW Indiana
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
I just took a nutrition class this summer and I remember discussing some research articles that showed that endurance athletes who are not getting enough recovery calories tend to have very suppressed immune systems. Are you eating/drinking enough after your training?
2006-09-24 5:53 PM
in reply to: #549964

Coach
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Stairway to Seven
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
what kind of symptoms are you having? Most true viral illnesses last about a week...if you are geting sick once a week you'd be sick all the time. Are you having congestion? runny noise? cough? It could be a lot of things that are really "sick" but I definately agree with all the general advice on sleep, nutrition and time management.
2006-09-24 5:57 PM
in reply to: #550295

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2006-09-25 8:18 AM
in reply to: #550104

Expert
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Lake Geneva
Subject: RE: Getting sick more often...
SweetK - 2006-09-24 12:03 PM

I do work a full time career, have a second grade daughter and I'm a single parent, so I find myself rushing around and probably not eating enough or sleeping enough.

Thanks for your encouragement!



What about vitamins and other supplements? Training like this puts a lot of stress on your body. It sounds like you are already under a lot of stress wether you feel it or not.

Take some extra vitamin C and Echinacea, especially with your daughter in school! You should fight off the viruses better. Also it is very important that you eat good food, fruit, veggies, lean protein, and drink lots of water.
listen to your body, if you are feeling run down, cut back on the training or skip a day to recover. Hope this helps! you are doing great by the way.!
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Getting sick more often... Rss Feed