Over two years ago, I bought a book entitled Bicycling Magazine’s 1000 All Time Best Tips. When I read it back then, I flagged a page that talks about getting a runny nose when cycling. Page 100, tip #46.
It says that this problem is caused by Vasomotor Rhinitis, and a prescription nasal spray called Atrovent, generic name of ipratropium can help. I finally went to the doctor and remembered to ask about this. He gave me an Rx and I tried it today.
OMG. It works. It’s a miracle cure. I rode for 2 whole hours without wiping snot off my nose and onto the back of my shorts. What a joy to ride without that huge annoyance. Why did I wait two years to ask the doctor about this? Rx cost $7 with insurance. $30 without, still well worth it!
I also have this snot nose problem while running, so am going to use the spray prior to bike and run workouts.
I am rereading that little book, and it’s even better the second time around.
I think I will have to give this a try too. I have just starting training again after a couple of years of being slack and it has brought this condition back on.
I used to only have this occur when I was really pushing myself. I think my cardio condition is so poor at present that anything is ‘pushing’.
I am sitting here also 26 hours after my first 30′ run and my nose is still dripping, my nose is burning and I am constantly wanting to sneeze.
Will I let this stop me……..no.
Thanks for the advice.
Thank you, thank you so very much!!
I was losing heart to exercise, I’ll go buy that spray tomorow and I’m looking forward to my run tomorownight allready!
The last entry I’ve found at this site was July 30th, 2008, so perhaps I am too late to share something else.
I used to be an AVID triathlete; but never competed. I rode a LOT- typically 100-150m per week in the winter, and many times 100-125 per day during the summertime. After the ride, I would run a cross country course twice (about 1.7 miles the way I did it, I believe,) and cross the street to end the day swimming. Never had the runny or burnie nose problem. At least not at all consistently.
Last year, after a decade of pretty much idle work, I began serious walking again. My walk for exercise (and relaxation, actually,) might as well be a slow run: any faster and I would be. Did not experience the problem. Returning to college slowed the walking routine down, then stopped it.
The past two weeks, I started again. Spin class and elliptical, both inside a club I worked out in repeatedly in the past. This time, however, I am having the same symptoms described here- but my sinuses (nose, really,) BURN something fierce. As I sit here, I still want to sneeze 24 hours after my last workout.
I have been taking Welbutrin and Adderol (sp?) for ADD issues. I noticed some minor dehydration symptoms with Welbutrin; but the Adderol was FAR worse. Something similar to taking two to three 7.5 mg Vicodin in four hours. Dry sinuses, constantly dry mouth, and that nagging “I need a drink” [of water, lol] feeling. And I haven’t been good keeping up to it and trying to over-hydrate in response.
So, just as another possible issue- watch the medication you are on. None of these have side effects that mention anything about hydration, or sinuses. It is a simple keen awareness I have of the way I feel. I think you have to trust that sometimes. I’m going to make a point in the next few weeks to prepare for my workouts by drinking enough water to force a bathroom break before the routine. (It works like that with me… an internal “she’s full, captain,” situation.) I’ll lose a lot of water quickly during my workout… I’m not there to watch the big screen TVs.
If this piques interest, the notification will email me and I’ll come back sooner to report. In any case, hope this helps!
Shawn
Oh! So it’s unnatural, a sign of illness, to have a running nose while exercising? I ALWAYS snot up when exercising, and I just thought it was part of my body’s cooling system. I’ll have to go read about Vasomotor Rhinitis. I just hate the idea of taking a drug to “cure” something that isn’t really an illness. But, I do confess, it would be nice not to wonder about what’s smeared across my face/cheek or hanging from my nose unknowingly when I finish my workout! BLECH!
Ok I have to get that spray. I have the same “runny” problem. Thanks for the tip.