You’ve spent the last several months training, then one day during the taper, you wake up achy with a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. Yep, getting sick before a race is just about every runner’s worst nightmare.
Before you spiral into a panic or go down a never ending Dr. Google search, take a deep breath. You may have done everything like you were supposed to, but getting sick right before a race is surprisingly common.
It’s so common that it actually has a name, “the runner’s flu”.
At least, that’s what Coach Amanda has taken to calling it over the last decade of seeing it happen so frequently.
Let’s talk about why it happens, tips to feel better, and when it’s actually smarter not to toe the starting line.
Why Do Runners Get Sick Before Race Day?
The marathon taper is supposed to be when you take things easy and mentally prepare for race day. So why does your body decide that now is a good time to feel like trash?
During your peak training weeks, you’re logging lots of miles, pushing hard, and managing higher levels of stress. Your body is running off adrenaline, which helps you power through but also suppresses your immune system.
Then the taper enters the chat. Your training backs off, adrenaline drops, and suddenly your immune system comes…
