Winter Running: Boost Your Immune System

Train Your Body How to Not Get Sick

Colds and coughs bring down legions of distance runners. Don't be one of them
By Jayme Moy runnersworld
 

Manage Stress

The body recognizes vigorous exercise as a stress factor: Hard workout or bad day at the office, it all looks the same to your internal fight-or-flight response. Add to that the mental angst that often goes along with race preparation, and it's no wonder runners are prone to colds. (More: Relief for the Most Common Stressors) All the more reason to work on your mental balance, says exercise kinesiologist Andrew Johnston. "Studies show that meditating for 20 minutes a day can lower stress," says Johnston, the founder of Triumph Training in Atlanta. "But you can break that up over the course of a day." The easiest way to start is to focus on one breath: Inhale slowly through your nose, pause, exhale slowly. Aim for 10 breaths, gradually adding time over several days. On your rest days, try going for an evening stroll, taking a tai chi class, or doing yoga. "These kinds of restorative activities are a good complement to an aggressive training schedule," he says.

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