Colds Suck And I'm Not Too Smart.

[Masters Power]

So I've always tried to avoid missing workouts when I have a cold. I go lighter and reduce the workload but unless I'm really feeling awful I get some work in, I know it isn't likely particularly productive but I do it because I hate letting a cold get the best of me. I've been doing this for 30 years of training without any major incidents until tonight.

I had two very long round trip flights for business last week and between being in airport after airport and two different hotels I managed to catch a cold when I was coming home on Monday. Felt bad yesterday but I'm starting to get better today. Had a deload deadlift day scheduled and had just planned on working up to 5 or 6 singles with 405. I pulled 500 for a triple a couple of weeks ago so this normally would have been a very easy session.

I was really stiff warming up so I did some extra stretching. Warm up sets at 225 and 315 didn't feel great but that happens with me sometimes when pulling. I pull semi sumo and on my first try at a single with 405 as the bar broke off the ground it felt like my left hamstring ripped in two.

Now a couple of hours later the bruising and swelling is minor so I don't think the tear is very big but still should have never happened. I should have known better than trying to pull with my body in a compromised state. I guess at 48 I'm still learning.

 

[johnnyBALLZ]

Sounds like it could've been a lot worse.. Get better soon!!

 

[alphastrength50]

damn bro do you know which part of hamstring ie. adductor magnus semitendinosus semimembranosus long head short head etc.?

 

[Masters Power]

Sounds like it could've been a lot worse.. Get better soon!!

Thanks JB. I think you are right, I iced it last night took some NSAIDS and this morning there is virtually no swelling and just a little bruising. I have an appointment with a doctor on another issue tomorrow so I'm going to have him take a look at it.

 

[Masters Power]

damn bro do you know which part of hamstring ie. adductor magnus semitendinosus semimembranosus long head short head etc.?

You lost me there alpha, it is up high just below my ass on the middle portion of my leg. I have had adductor problems with that leg before so it wouldn't be a shock if it were somehow tied to those issues.

 

[flenser]

Is it normal to lose a lot of strength when you get a cold? I was a fanatical mountain biker for several years and would never have let a cold slow me down. I actually had THE most grueling ride of my life while I had a bad cold. So I just figured they wouldn't affect raw strength either.

But I've had a cold since Saturday and I'm so much weaker I wonder if something else is wrong. I have been getting 5X5 squats at 455 and singles at 485, but this morning 315 felt super heavy. When I put the 4th plate on, I could barely get it off the rack. I stupidly tried to squat that sucker and hit the pins so hard they bent.

What really bugs me is I don't even feel sick anymore. So is that strength just gone, or will I get it back in a week or two?

Sorry to hijack the thread MP. Hope your hamstring heals quick..

 

[Masters Power]

Is it normal to lose a lot of strength when you get a cold? I was a fanatical mountain biker for several years and would never have let a cold slow me down. I actually had THE most grueling ride of my life while I had a bad cold. So I just figured they wouldn't affect raw strength either.

But I've had a cold since Saturday and I'm so much weaker I wonder if something else is wrong. I have been getting 5X5 squats at 455 and singles at 485, but this morning 315 felt super heavy. When I put the 4th plate on, I could barely get it off the rack. I stupidly tried to squat that sucker and hit the pins so hard they bent.

What really bugs me is I don't even feel sick anymore. So is that strength just gone, or will I get it back in a week or two?

Sorry to hijack the thread MP. Hope your hamstring heals quick..

Flenser- Don't worry about your strength should be back at your previous levels as soon as you get better.

I've found over the years it is hard to judge how much a cold impacts your strength until you are in the gym. There have been times when I felt pretty good despite the cold but had similar experiences to what you described above, there have been other times when I felt pretty shitty with a cold and when I got in the gym my strength was almost exactly the same as normal.

 

[flenser]

Flenser- Don't worry about your strength should be back at your previous levels as soon as you get better.

I've found over the years it is hard to judge how much a cold impacts your strength until you are in the gym. There have been times when I felt pretty good despite the cold but had similar experiences to what you described above, there have been other times when I felt pretty shitty with a cold and when I got in the gym my strength was almost exactly the same as normal.

It does seem to be coming back now. Went in this morning for upper and deads and pretty much hit the numbers I was expecting. I have to admit I was getting nervous, though. I probably should have taken the week off completely.