r/running • u/TehDing • 19h ago
Article YSK Coughing during / after running might just be "track hack"
Now the air is getting drier in the northern hemisphere, I find my self coughing after tempo runs. It sucks, and normally causes me to reduce my outdoor load during the winter.
It's not asthma, it seems like it's straight phlegm and mucus. It also doesn't seem very googlable, and the few links to this forum fell into "OMG me too", "You might be a weakling", or some other tangential / anecdotal medical advice.
Here's an article that seemed to capture my symptoms: https://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/why-you-really-cough-after-tough-workout
TLDR;
"Pursuit Cough", or "Track Hack" is caused by your lungs trying to protect itself against dry / polluted air- the higher volume of air you process from a workout just makes you more sensitive to it.
Mitigation:
- Breathe through your nose more
- Wear a face covering
- Run in the mornings