Asthma and running. I get asked about it a lot so I figured we should just hash it out today!
This past weekend, I set out on Saturday morning for my latest and greatest long run attempt: 15 miles. If all went as planned, it would be a new PDR for me and I would love every minute.
Unfortunately, that did NOT happen!
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| My sad face because my runs were no bueno |
About a mile into my run, I noticed that I just wasn’t breathing correctly. In order to handle endurance events, I have to be very aware of my breathing at all times: I have to know when it’s getting too shallow, know when I can push it a bit, and definitely understand that moment when I need to back the hell off in order to avoid having an attack.
There was no logical reason as to why my breathing just didn’t feel right, so stupidly, I chose to continue. Right around mile 2 I felt my lungs start to seize up and my shallow breaths became almost non-existent. I realized I was hooting like an owl which is always an indicator that the oxygen is not coming!
I immediately stopped and grabbed my rescue inhaler, which I typically have with me. I sucked down a chunk of the Albuterol and bent over at the waist, trying to get my breathing under control. Scary? Sure. But to be honest, it has happened so many times over the years that I can always tell when it is panic time and when it is just “calm yourself down” time. Luckily, this was the latter.
I walked the two miles back to my house, trying to figure out the cause of the attack. Finally, it hit me.
Freaking humidity!
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| Source |
You see, Colorado is not a humid state at all. Yes, we have a disadvantage in terms of our altitude, but I am used to the elevation and can handle it. The humidity is another story. Moisture in the air is not good if you have crappy lungs like I do. In fact, doctors often send patients with lung issues to live in dry states like Arizona for this exact reason!
I did a little research, and sure enough, my town was sitting at almost 90% humidity on Saturday morning when I was running. When I combined that with my asthma and the altitude, I was sending my poor lil’ lungs into an unprepared overdrive that they did not know how to handle.
You see, when I am not on my asthma meds, I have been told that I breathe at 55% of what a women of my age, height and weight should be breathing at. When I take my meds, I’m typically up in the 80-85% range. However, when you throw in the altitude and the humidity, I seriously felt like I was breathing through a straw…and not a big one! In fact, I like to compare it to those tiny red straws that you see at gas stations that they give you so that you can stir your coffee. Know what I’m talking about? That’s how it felt 🙂
Anyway, after I did a little research and took my Prednisone bursts, I became more determined to get out there yesterday and get this run accomplished. I can be stubborn sometimes, and this was definitely one of those instances!
I set out yesterday with a plan: at every mile marker, I was going to walk for a minute. This seemed a little annoying to me, but it makes sense: this minute allowed my breathing to calm back down and prevented my lungs from going all hog wild on me. Plus, I had the Anne of Green Gables audiobook with me, so at least I was entertained.
I trotted along for a good 30-40 minutes and I felt great. I was walking, as planned, and had kissed goodbye the notion of busting out a speedy run. I just wanted to cover the mileage in any way, shape or form that involved my two feet.
However, this weekend clearly was NOT the weekend for me to be running! Right around mile 5, right when I was in my zone, I tripped over a curb and face planted it on the concrete sidewalk! I’ve never fallen like this, so I guess I should give myself some credit for doing it right 🙂 I managed to catch myself with my hands but my left knee and my right shoulder took a beating!
The knee is sore and just had some road rash stuff today, but my shoulder is all wonky. It is wicked sore still, but luckily, I have Terminator skin because I don’t even have a mark. Damnit, I need evidence that it hurts!
So, your lesson for the day? Don’t ever go running with me unless you have a First Aid kit 😉
31 Comments
Yep – asthma right here. I take Singulair daily and have for about 10 years now. It really changed my life in terms of what I could do exercise-wise. Before that, I couldn’t even go on a hike let alone run a single mile.
Humidity is definitely a big issue for me too. Though, if it gets down to 50% around here then we would say it wasn’t humid at all LOL.
I tried Singulair but unfortunately, it wasn’t strong enough for me so I had to go on a 2x/day for Pulmicort. Blah. I sometimes don’t take it twice because it feels like that is too much steroid for my body, but what can you do, right?!
I don’t even know how you handle that humidity! I’d croak!
I’m really lucky to have found Singulair and that it does work for me. But my asthma was never exercise-induced so maybe that could be part of it for me. I just have severe asthma with random attacks if I’m not on it. As for the humidity, I guess you sort of get used to it like you’re used to the elevation. Now THAT would do me in for sure!
Man, you had a rough weekend of running! I’m impressed that you stuck with it and didn’t give up! I’ve only had that “can’t get air” feeling with bronchitis and it’s terrifying!
You know, it is scary! Back when I had my first-ever attacks, I remember being all-out terrified which, of course, just makes the breathing even worse!
I hear you sister! I have battled exercise induced asthma through 35 marathons. I don’t think that there was a single one of those that I did not have some problem, sometimes so badly I had to hold onto something to keep from falling, feeling like my vision was getting dark. (well maybe once, not surprisingly my PR) Only had to drop out of two, when I just couldn’t pull it back together.
Back then, I used Singulair, plus a couple others that I can’t remember. Once I stopped running such long distances though, I stopped taking all the extra meds and just rely on my proventil for emergencies.
I agree, humidity sucks. I always have my worst problems when it is humid.
Kudos to you lady, I was barely able to scrape by, and I don’t even have asthma.
I hope you can get through this bump in the road of having to pace yourself mroe than youlike – but you will get there and this dang weather will clear up! I am so digging the idea of listening to a book while running!!!
Audiobooks are awesome!! When I’m out there for longer than an hour, I need something to keep my mind focused!
Ouch on the fall! I have tripped on a curb but I have always managed to catch myself before the fall. Glad you didn’t get hurt too bad. I love listening to audiobooks when I run really makes the time fly by.
My wife has asthma and fjghts this on long runs. In winter cold causes issues in summer all the stuff you write about… ugh. Breathe happy cooler weather is coming.
Yes, super cold temps are a pain too! I Have to be good about bringing a bandana or something to cover my mouth when I ski just to warm up the air a bit before I breathe it in. Sigh 🙂
Ugh. Tomorrow is another day, right? But you could move to Arizona with me 😉
Sorry you had a bad run:( NO fun. If it makes you feel any better, I have tripped on a curb before. I was dressed all cute and headed into a clothing store. I proceeded to trip and fall, breaking my favorite pair of sandals and ripping a hole in the knee of my cute white capri pants:( So sad. I had to walk through the store trying to keep my sandals on as they flopped all around. It makes me laugh at myself now:)
Tough times. Glad you see it as a challenge, not an excuse! I used to go to the hospital every now and then as a kid because of my asthma. I chose to do sports regardless and the better shape I was in, the less likely I was to have asthma attacks. I had to watch it for races, of course, but I was able to do what most people use as an excuse not to exercise.
I’m so sorry your run wasn’t as amazing as you had hoped. Hope your injury gets better. I feel flat on my face about 3 weeks ago running, not only is it embarrassing, but it hurts!
Glad it wasn’t a worse attack. A few years ago they thought I had asthma and I remember how scary it was not to breath and how weird it would be to not catch my breath during a run and have to scrap it for whatever reason. Glad you made a plan and got back out there though
I feel for you, and I totally know the straw feeling! Asthma is the worst, I hate when my legs feel great and yet I can’t run as fast as I’d like because I can’t freaking breathe. I still say you’re a trooper for continuing after that fall! My 14 miler last weekend involved walking at the beginning of every mile as well, and also Anne with an E!
YIKES!! What a weekend!! I grew up with chronic bronchitis, but seemed to have (thankfully) outgrown it. And oddly enough, I did recently trip. I haven’t tripped in a LONG time, and just yesterday my boyfriend and I were filling up the rental car before returning it and as I side-step-ran back to my truck I totally ate it on the curb where the tanks are. The platform/foundation/curb area stuck out way more than other gas stations and down I went! I have a little road rash on my elbow, but I think I’ll be ok;)
STOKED I WON!!! Sending you an email riiiight nah!
I have exercise-induced asthma but have been lucky in that it hasn’t bothered me much since high school. But you are absolutely right – when it’s hot and humid, I cannot breathe. And yes, I have fallen flat on my face before. It’s fun doing it in the middle of midtown Manhattan.
I can only imagine the straw feeling, that sounds painful! Sorry your running wasn’t what you hoped this weekend, but you have a good attitude about it!
I’ve never had that feeling but I can imagine that it’s pretty scary. Way to go on making it as far as you did. And OUCH to road rash! Be careful girl!! 😉
I don’t have asthma although I’ve had this cough for going on 6 or 7 weeks now and this humidity is a killer!!!!! The air is so darn thick! How do people breath this stuff? Sorry about your fall, sure hope your shoulder feels better soon!
Yikes… that can be scary. I’m glad you were smart. Yes, you went another mile, but you knew when to call it a day. And man, that looks like rudolph’s red nose.
I think you need something sweet. A cake pop, popsicle. Something. Indulge!
oh and your sad face is super cute. LOL. I know that’s not what you were going for, but ya.
I am not an asthma sufferer but a running buddy of mine is and she kinda wanted to die in Lincoln when she couldnt breath courtesy of the humidity. We just signed up for another 1/2 in October in Scottsbluff, she promptly refilled her inhaler prescription and hopefully is good to go!
I don’t have asthma but sometimes I do feel like I have trouble breathing while running, so maybe I have a mild case of exercise induced asthma? My mom always has to use her inhaler before she runs or she has a hard time breathing!
Sorry about the tough times!! I’m so used to high humidity levels that when I come visit up there, my nose feels uncomfortable because the dry air makes my mucous membranes feel like they are about to crack open!!
No reason to complain you don’t have more fall injuries, that just means you’re gracefully ungraceful! haha.
P.S. Where have you been in my blogging world?? Haven’t heard from you in a while!
Sorry about the trip and fall! I most definitely have tripped. A couple of winters ago when there were patches of ice on the ground I tripped on a lip in the sidewalk and almost wrenched my shoulder out. The kicker was that there wasn’t a particle of ice anywhere near where I tripped. So, it was just me. 🙂 Good luck next time!
Gosh, it was just not in the cards for you to have a successful run. Hope your shoulder and knee are feeling better!
I have lifelong chronic asthma and it is SO frustrating to not always be able to do what I want to do, in spite of my efforts. I take Singulair and Qvar, and my rescue inhaler but the cold bothers me, the humidity bothers me, the pollen bothers me, the heat bothers me… I just did a 17 mile / 5 mountain hike and was outside for almost 10 hours in the pollen. Ended up in the ER a couple days later, and now on a predisnone burst. Glad others can relate!