The first cold of the season is upon me. What do people think is the quickest way to get better. No medication at all or loads of cold remedies or vitamin C or whatever. I don't usuallly run as I think this probably extends the duration but who knows? I've tried everthing over the years and not come up any best course of action as they all generally last a week to 10 days. Any ideas people?

My virology lecturer always asserted that the common cold virus (including man-flu!) takes a week to 10 days to clear, with plenty of rest and fluids. Regardless of what else you do / take.  That said, he also started every lecture with a really nasty photo of some horrible viral disease, which wouldn't have been so bad if his lectures weren't always after lunch.

You can alleviate the symptoms, and even be nearly symptom free after a few days, but your actual recovery will still take at least week.  By which time little Timmy has come home from his first week at school /university with a whole new strain for you to try out and share around! Joy.

I agree about the being outdoors part helping though - Since taking up running I have had noticably fewer and less symptomatic colds.

I rarely get ill but recently caught the cold (with a very sore/dry cough), which I'm just gettin gover after 2 weeks.  I felt the best thing was to sit in a steam room for 30 mins on a regular basis to sweat it out.  Unfirtunately, running certainly didn't help as I had bother with my breathing and had to miss out on the Glasgow 1/2 marathon as a result.  Medicines and other remedies are a myth!

Hi Guys, I like Kate and Ian have had much less colds / coughs since taking up running and the slight one I did get earlier this year I just ran with it, and it really did seem to clear my head during the run, and the cold cleared much quicker than normal. My whole family have had quite bad viral cough / colds over the past few weeks, I (touch wood) have been unaffected and have kept running, telling them jokingly that I haven't got time for a cold! I have felt the slight onset at times over these few weeks but I honestly believe the continued fitness activity is battling it off, and perhaps there may be something in the theory that immunity builds up! Just keep running guys and gals! 

Thanks all. i think I know a lot about running but have never sorted the cold thing. So, it was a head cold that started on Sunday with a sore throat but didn't feel too bad by yesterday (Wednesday), just a bit snotty, so went for a run and so far it hasn't got any worse and the run was reasonably hard and fastish.

Good luck with you two running Sunday, fingers crossed!