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Will running in the rain make me sick?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 22, 2026

Contrary to popular belief, running in the cold or in the rain won't actually give you a cold. The only way you can catch a cold is by being exposed to the virus.

Why am I sick after running in the rain?

A cold is caused by a virus, which not influenced by rain. However, certain cold viruses (e.g. Rhinovirus) spread more easily in the winter because they function better at low temperatures. Cold weather correlates with colds but rain cannot cause you to catch a cold.

Why you shouldn't run in the rain?

Rain also means wet conditions, which increases your risk of slipping and falling. Drivers are also less likely to see you in a rain storm, so the risk of getting hit by a car also increases. While that won't make you sick, an injury could sideline you from running.

Does running in the rain lower your immune system?

Rain can act as an enabler, as it can lower your body temperature and in turn, weaken your immune system's response.

Can you get pneumonia from running in the rain?

It might surprise you to find out that neither cold weather nor wet hair can cause you to catch pneumonia. In fact, pneumonia in itself isn't contagious, so you can't really “catch” it at all.

17 related questions found

Does getting wet in the rain cause fever?

Getting wet in the rain may cause symptoms similar to those of coronavirus. Getting wet in the rain causes cold, cough, or fever. 1- If you get wet in the rain, change your clothes as soon as you reach home.

Is it OK to exercise in the rain?

Running in the rain is generally considered safe. But if there are thunderstorms in your area that include lightning, or it's downpouring and the temperature is below freezing, running in the rain may be dangerous. If you're going to run while it's raining, make sure you're appropriately dressed for the elements.

What to do after running in the rain?

4 things all runners should do after a cold, rainy run

  1. Remove your wet clothes ASAP. The longer you leave your wet clothes on your skin, the colder you'll get and the harder it'll be to warm back up. ...
  2. Towel off. ...
  3. Take a warm shower. ...
  4. Sip on something warm.

Why does getting caught in the rain make you sick?

Just think, when you get wet, your body temperature drops, which can impact your immune system. When your immune system isn't working like it should, you become more susceptible to bacteria and viruses that are all around us.

How do you get out of the rain without getting sick?

Prepare Your Rain Gear – The most effective way not to get sick during the rainy season is to wear rain gear. The primary components of rain gear are the umbrella, rain coat or hooded jacket, and waterproof shoes. If you have a complete set of rain-repulsing items, your chances of getting sick totally decreases.

Can you get sick from being wet and cold?

While being cold and wet won't get you sick, certain cold viruses do thrive in a colder climate. The virus that is most responsible for causing colds, the rhinovirus, prefers a colder climate and studies have shown there is a correlation between colder temperatures and increased rhinovirus infections.

Can rain cause sore throats?

(KSNW) – The cooler temperatures, wind, and rain may be causing some to have flare-ups with their allergies. “Basically, drainage down the back of the throat, scratchy throat, coughing, sneezing and itchy watery eyes,” says Andrea Babb, a Physician's Assitant at Clifton Family Medicine. “I like warm weather too.

What is runners belly?

Runner's stomach occurs when our digestive system experience a large amount of agitation from the act of running or high-endurance exercise.

Can you get hypothermia from running in the rain?

And being caught in an extremely heavy rain shower rain can rapidly trigger hypothermia due to the potential for a quick drop in overall body temperature; Evaporation. When water evaporates, it cools your body making the temperature that your body perceives much colder than what the real temperature actually is.

Should I jog in the rain?

Running in the rain helps to relieve stress.

Water is cleansing, and the sound of rain is relaxing … as long as you're not running in a near-freezing downpour. If you can let go of your rainy-day dread, you might just finish a wet spring run in a more mindful state than you started.

Does running in the rain burn calories?

Several studies have revealed that we burn more calories in the rain as our bodies aren't at risk of overheating and we stay cooler for longer. Your body also has to work harder to keep itself warm and when by putting this extra strain on yourself you in turn burn more calories.

Should you shower after rain?

Take a bath

Taking a bath stabilizes the cold temperature you reach from the rain and shifts thing back to your normal temperature. And it cleans you from all the toxic stuff that rain accumulates on its way down to you.

Can you get sick from being outside in the cold?

While it's advice you've heard for years, Fecher says it's true, but not in the sense of catching a cold virus or the flu. “You can't get sick from being cold in general, whether you are outside or inside,” Fecher says.

Why does weather change make me sick?

With the colder temps of winter, we're indoors for longer periods of time around more people, and that gives viruses ample feeding ground. “There are more germs indoors and ventilation isn't as good as being outdoors,” says Dr. Vyas, “so when you're around more people, viruses spread more easily.”

Does running give abs?

Helps to Build Core Strength

And for runners who don't have time to hop on a treadmill or to head outside for a run, simply running in place while activating your core muscles can be effective for strengthening all of your postural muscles, including the abs, according to studies.

Can you run every day as a beginner?

How often you run each week should depend on your goals and physical fitness level. For example, if you're a beginner, you don't need to start out running every day because you're at a higher risk of burnout or injury. Instead, start by running every other day for 20–30 minutes.

Is running 10k in an hour good?

More advanced runners will be able to finish under 43 minutes, averaging just under 7 minutes a mile. By some standards, a male elite runner should be able to run a 10k in under 38 minutes and a female elite runner in under 45 minutes. Though, elite qualifying standards are race-specific and vary.

Why do I get a sore throat after running?

Sore throats when exercising can have two main causes. Nasal obstruction and acid reflux. Poor flow of air through the nose makes it harder to oxygenate especially during a workout. We are inclined to open our mouths to breathe better, especially when we are out of shape.

Why does running in the cold hurt my throat?

Sore throats aren't always caused by being sick.

Cold air can dry out the tissue in the throat and can cause severe irritation. Symptoms can be made worse when breathing through the mouth rather than the nose. Because of this, it is common for people to have a sore throat from cold weather after exercising.

Can rainy weather cause shortness of breath?

“Rainy weather can cause shortness of breath. It's most likely when there are changes in humidity, temperature and pollen. And these changes can affect people with asthma and COPD,” says Dr. Pien.