Taking Mucinex before a race

Last week I was dealing with the same thing before the NYC marathon. By Thursday or so I felt like the cold had crested, but I was still dealing with a lot of congestion.

On someones recommendation I ended up trying a Neti Pot to clean out my sinuses and it seemed to work for me.

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinus-pain-pressure-11/neti-pots

$10 from Walgreens was worth it for me. 

+1 on the NetiPot.  And maybe Zinc lozenges. 

But taking systemic cold medicines (decongestants, antihistamines, etc.) during an endurance event can be bad news-- unpredictable effects on thirst, hydration, heart rate, etc. 

If you decide to do event I would really take it easy.  And if you start to feel bad during it (breathing issues, wheezing, dizziness, etc.) don't be too proud to drop.  DNF >>>>> critical in med tent.

x2, I had started on a new allergy medication and dehydrated horribly in a race two years ago. Got the cold and clammy's and just stopped and walked to the nearest aid station.  It was 88 degrees and humid, but cold dry air is no better.

To the OP: also doing Philly and fighting a cold. Haven't run in 3 days and my head feels like it's going to pop. Still have another week to get better.

Woah boy, be careful!

Last year at this time I had a nasty recurring respiratory issue. Every time the cough would go away, I'd start working out again and the darn thing would come back.  Yack.

I did a Turkey Trot before it cleared up and it was, um, interesting.  I think the coughing helped me produce a better time.  All was good whilst running, but every time I slowed down to a walk I started back with the violent coughing.

At the end of the race I probably coughed VIOLENTLY for a good ten minutes.  Enough that I almost threw up and I was genuinely surprised that nobody sent paramedics in my direction.

My short answer is that it might not keep you from running, but boy are you gonna feel it when you stop!

Thanks.  I'll stay away from the cold meds. 

I ran an easy 8 today it felt "ok".  I took yesterday off and ran an real easy 4 the day before and a pretty easy 5 the day before.  I'm generally not one to take it easy so for me that is pretty good.  I may take tomorrow off too now and just try to kick it out of the system.  I got a little over 280 miles in during October so I think at this point I can only do more harm than good by running too much.

I'd ask your pharmacist. I'm not sure that Mucinex is a cold medicine per say.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

Thanks Kathy.  I actually did ask him and we were talking about it.  He ran the Hartford marathon last year so he was a sympathizer.  He said it could be ok just the cough suppressant stuff.  I took it yesterday and it did make me feel a little off.  This AM I ran without anything and since it was easy I wasn't breathing hard and wasn't coughing....it's different when you are trying to race though...

I also came across in my reading that some of that stuff contains banned substances.  Now, I'm not going to win anything but I still don't want to take anything that would be considered illegal so won't take Sudafed or anything like that.

I hope your Florida recovery is going well!

I would not take it.   I did before a Rball tourney and cramped in both calves on a shot.  It was crazy to lay there not being able to move in extreme pain.  Came on without warning.  Not I just snot it out.  Feel sorry for the guys in the cyclocross race that were behind me today.

Not only is it banned, but pseudephedrine will elevate your heart rate and cause dehydration. Something like Clarinex-D has a huge dose of pseudephedrine (240mg) and is what I was on when I nearly heat stroked during a race. I am OK with regular Clarinex (or generic loratidine).

I honestly can't see a problem with taking Mucinex before a race.  Mucinex has been my cold remedy of choice for a few years now because it does NOT make me feel funny, like pseudphed can.  Unless my head is so stuffed it hurts, I only take Mucinex now.    Yes, Mucinex will dehydrate you so you must be vigilant while taking it (esp for a race).  I think it would be a good choice, personally, if you want to run.  I would probably also bring some cough drops or something to suck on during and after the run.

Now, I had a similar experience as another poster after a race with coughing myself to death.  I had a bad cold the week before a half marathon a few weeks ago.  I was feeling better by race day, but still coughing some.    The race was fine but when I stopped I coughed violently for a LONG time.   Fortunately it subsided when I got to lunch and had something to drink, which might have helped.  But I was pretty close to taking myself to urgent care.  I've never had asthma or used an inhaler, but I think I probably needed a hit.

Mucinex would only be called for (perhaps) if you had mucous in your lungs.  Keep it out of your lungs and all you need is a decongestant for the sinuses.  But exercise itself is already a great decongestant!

Some have warned about pseudophed.  I can't speak to any health concerns...but I can say that it does help athletic performance.  To the point that the IOC has banned it from use by olympic athletes.  And I can confirm that in my own case.  Dealing with quite the head cold right now.  My workouts step up a notch on the days I have pseudophed first.  Must be the stimulant effect.

Any cough suppressant would probably also be a depressant and would likely hurt performance.  Anti-histimines?  They make me feel so crappy I can't imagine racing like that.