As a silly experiment I raced a 1/2 marathon with a cold.
On so many levels it was both the right and wrong thing to do, and no I wouldn't do it again.

Any one else willing to share their experience of training/racing with colds or coughs etc.

I go by the rule of "if its above the neck run / race, below the neck rest". I can cope with copious amounts of snot, coughs, wheezes and headaches and take stuff to keep on top of it for a short time, but when the aches or fevers set in, time to rest. Going for a run often makes me feel better than sitting indoors feeling sorry for myself.

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Fetcheveryone

Ran with a fever once... Intense cross country session...
I spent the next 2 weeks in bed with the worst fever ever in my life.
Would I have felt that way even if I hadn't done that run?
I don't know... But I have been much more careful since...

I ran the Cardiff marathon in 2004 with food poisoning from a meal that I had the night before... I shouldn't have run, it was a horrendous experience, but I didn't realise til I was practically on the start line and I gradually got more sick as the race went on.

I struggled to the finish in 4.03 though.

I was very sick for a couple of days after

awww ..................that was a pretty good time considering

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not all men are created equal!!!:D

and women! hehe:D

I reckon running with a head cold is ok and I've found in the past it clears it a bit! But any aches or fever or systemic signs and I would avoid - felt awful when I tried to run like that just after Christmas. I heard somewhere that the reason we should be careful about running with viral illnesses like these is because of rare cases of triggering a viral pericarditis (ie where lining of heart can get inflammed) This is rare but still a good reason to have a day off training when feeling rubbish!