Today I completed my first run in almost 2 years. 4.3 kilometres in 30 minutes is probably the slowest I've ever run but it's right up there with any of my previous marathon efforts that seem a long time ago now.
Running used to be such a huge part of my life. I loved it because it was something that I was good at, gave me purpose and was also a great way to decompress, take time out and stay generally fit and healthy. However, as the lung disease progressed I started to dread running as it made me face up to the reality of the fact that my lungs were getting worse. I got slower and slower and able to run less and less far. In the end I decided to give up as it was rubbing the proverbial salt in the wounds and I didn't want to be constantly reminded of my diminishing lung capacity and shrinking world.
The constant threat of pneumothoraxes didn't help - I've had four in as many years - as it has meant I have had to be extra careful not to push myself too hard. This made finding a pace where it's a challenge but not too much of a challenge very difficult and ultimately only further accentuated the rate of my decline as I had to go even slower than what I would like to be going.
At least they are the excuses that I used to not run any more. Natural enough I guess as none of us really want to confront the reality of our situation and be reminded of the direction we are headed with our lung conditions. However, as I prepare for next week's transplant assessment, I've come to the realisation that it does me no good dodging getting breathless. That only leads to fear and frustration which are two emotions that I could do without. Today I gave it a go within my limitations and it really wasn't that bad. Sure it wasn't a great distance that I ran but that doesn't matter. It's about getting out there, giving it a go and showing the lung disease that I'm in charge and I'm not frightened of it.
We all have our personal demons with lung disease and running was one of mine. I'm hoping that over time, I'll come to love running again and each time be less and less anxious about confronting breathlessness and my lung condition as it is. We all know exercise is really important but it's easier said than done when push comes to shove. However, it's definitely worth it as you feel so much more empowered afterwards after breaking the horrible vicious cycle of wanting to avoid breathlessness which makes you weaker and in turn means you become more breathless, more easily.
So, whatever your challenge may be I urge you all to try pushing yourself out of your comfort zone just a little to do something that you'd otherwise have put off. Trust me, you'll feel better for it and it's not so scary once you give it a go!
Written by
dodgylungrunner
British Lung Foundation
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Thanks Bernadette! Felt great to put the puffers through their paces again. Going to give it another go again tomorrow and see how I go. Hope you're well and having a great week?
Much respect to you on many levels Dodgylungsrunner . We all need a "quiet place" where we can take a bit of time and find space to deal with the matters of the day - whether or not we have health challenges. To have re-grasped your own seems like a massive win to me.
Thanks MMaud ! Running was definitely my thinking space and always made me happy so I'm glad that I faced up to the challenge and put my puffers through their paces. Going to give it another go again tomorrow.
Thanks sassy59 . It felt great to run again. Especially afterwards. Going to give it another go again tomorrow and see how it goes. Hope all is well with you?
Your comment about having Forearms like Popeye but legs like Twiggy made me laugh! I think I'm the opposite as my legs are super strong but I've never been that muscly in the upper half. Together we'd be the dream team!
4 km sounds very good to me. Hope you can keep it up and see just how well you can do. My personal 'push' is walking further than I think I ought to deep into the countryside, hoping I'll be able to get back home again.😅😳🤪 Got a new target for this year, but only when it's a bit warmer. xxx
Thanks Alberta56 ! Going to go again tomorrow and see if I can push it just a tiny bit further. Bit of a balancing act though as I don't want to push it to hard and risk a pneumothorax. Love a good countryside walk and think it's great to set targets. Definitely wait until it warms up though - I find the cold air really has an impact on my airway which is why I stick to the treadmill indoors.
Thanks Shrimpy-13-22-25 . Definitely going to try and slowly increase the speed and see how I go. Got to be careful not to go too beserk though. Starting it slowly by running once a week (next run tomorrow) and seeing how I go.
Lol…your slowest run 🏃♀️ is probably my fastest 😂😂😂…well maybe not literally…I’m better at sprinting and intervals than long distance. But I’m glad if I do 5.6 k in 40 minutes!
And I’m not waiting for a lung transplant! Well done for giving it a go! I hope you felt pleased with yourself! It’s hard when the things you loved are so much harder to achieve and reminders of how tricky life has become in some senses. But how much of an achievement does it feel having done that!!
Hi madonbrew . 5.6k in 40 minutes is not to be sniffed at. Very respectable indeed. How are things with you generally? Lungs performing ok?
I'm really pleased to have got back to it. Going for another run tomorrow and will see if I can go a tad further. Completely agree about how its hard to try and do things again knowing that you can't do them as you used to. It's a large part of why I put off running for so long. Really pleased I broke through the barrier though and ready and raring to go tomorrow again. Hope you enjoy your running and wish you all the best going forwards.
I sincerely hope that you pass those assessments for a lung transplant,i also hope that in some way through other medications and treatments that you may never need those lungs and the progression of your condition could be lessened to such an extent that you can manage without a transplant.
I do however suggest that you need to do something with that tongue you keep showing us as it seems rather large and may be a hindrance in breathing whilst doing all that exercise.
Thanks skischool ! The assessment went relatively well and certainly lots of positives to take away from it all. However, they need me to undergo some further tests on my heart to check that everything is ok before they can make a final decision in terms of next steps. Unfortunately due to all the backlog with appointments the soonest that I can have the tests is the beginning of April so I won't have their recommendation until after that. In the meantime I've just got to keep going with the exercise and enjoying life.
Sadly the drugs that I'm on will only slow down my lung disease rather than stop it so the lung transplant is the only real long-term option to buck the trend. However that's obviously not without its risks so it's a big call that I'll need to make at some point.
I don't know why I do that with my tongue in pictures - become something of a trademark!
Well done, you. Thank you so much for telling your story. It’s a really tricky thing to get right. And very complex for most of us. Every exercise test I have done has been stopped because my heart rate shot up. I had to pull out of PR after ten sessions because I was not recovering at all after the sessions, my symptoms — breathlessness and chest pain — were worsening dramatically. The physio who was running the course wasn’t happy for me to continue and wrote to my GP and consultant. How long does it take for you to recover after exertion? Having had asthma since a child breathlessness doesn’t bother me, my walking companions were used to it, but would sometimes suggest I use my inhaler. The sudden onset lung damage 12 years ago was very different. And, weirdly, my asthma has gone (??). So very pleased you did your run.
Thanks Katinka46 . Felt so good to give it a go and looking forward to doing so again tomorrow. Really sorry to hear about your own troubles with exercise. It must be frustrating and worrying in equal measure. I'd be tearing my hair out!
Recovery after exertion for me depends on how much I've pushed myself but after the run it was 2 or 3 minutes. Funnily enough my heart is something that the docs are a little concerned by, too, following my transplant assessment earlier this week. I did a heart echo as part of that and that revealed some irregularities which they're going to need to run some further tests on. Hopefully it's nothing too untoward.
Very weird that your asthma has gone but that the lung damage has racked up since. Do the doctors know what's causing it?
Absolutely Firefly25 ! I go again tomorrow and hopefully I'll be able to go a tiny bit further this time. Assessment went well in the main though they need to do a few further tests on my heart before they can make a decision on the transplant after my heart echo came back slightly unexpected. Trying not to worry too much and enjoy life in the meantime though could do without having a 2 month wait for the follow up scans.
You’ve definitely got a great attitude! I agree it’s annoying to have to wait 2 months, but as you say all you can do is try not to worry and enjoy life 😊
Aww 🥰 that’s amazing 🤩. That’s great news and your body will thank you for it. In October I’ve got myself a Peleton and started running on the Treadmill program too, as I have a treadmill. I was running an hour a day at the beginning of lockdown, as I was competing and wanted to retain my fitness and save my sanity. The mental part of exercise is huge and for me, every bit as important as the physical benefits. I went back to do my Zumba class at the leisure centre yesterday. Lovely to see my old mates. First class in two years. There’s nothing like exercise and the endorphin high, I’m addicted.
I totally agree with all your post. Building up within your limits, feeling breathless and accepting it and building your confidence and fitness. Congratulations 🎉 times and splits don’t matter. I compete against myself, mostly. ( Except if I look at the Peleton leaderboard 😉)
I’m with you on exercise being as important for my mental well being as my physical! It really helps heaps! I love doing a good workout 🏋️♀️ 🏃♀️…for both my physical and mental well-being.
That’s great news. Nice to meet some people with the same love 💕 ( and addiction 😂) as me. Hope you continue enjoying yourself 💪. Stay strong fellow lung 🫁 buddy. 🤗
It is nice meeting other people who enjoy exercise like this too! I often work out at home but enjoy the gym and have just recently started going again sometimes. I want to chat to one of the trainers because I kind of make up my own plan but I want to know how to train better…particularly with running. I do interval’s and a bit of a mixed workout. But it would be good to have a more ‘educated ‘ plan!
Great idea 💡. I like intervals and/ or combined with inclines. Others days longer, steady and slower. I’m finding my way on what works for me. A plan for training is a great idea. Best wishes 💪🤗 ( I believe some core strength is important too even for running 🏃♀️. Helps posture and knee drive)
Hi madonbrew . Glad to hear that you're back in the gym again and keeping your fitness going. Definitely speak to one of the trainers as I'm sure that they can give you some good tips and different training activities to keep things interesting. I find having targets helps keep me motivated. We'll have to set up a little fitness group or something where we can share experiences and keep pushing each other to keep going
rachelmi sounds like you're keeping yourself super active which is brilliant. I'd love to be able to run for an hour again - that's my target I think. Completely agree that the mental benefits almost outweigh the physical ones. Feels like you're taking control a bit, too, of your lung condition when so much of it you can't do anything about. Competition element of the Peloton sounds like it's really motivating you, too.
Thanks MoyB ! Had my transplant assessment earlier this week which was exhausting both mentally and physically but going to give the bike a bash this afternoon and do another run tomorrow.
Am very impressed that you managed to do the run Andy and would love to be able to walk 4.3km let alone run, well done to you. I can understand it helps with mental health. I feel the same when I can get in the garden. Good luck with your appointment next week x
Hi Izb1 . It was great for my mental health and we all have our limits that we can try and push. I'm really glad you've got your gardening to keep you active and feeling positive. I know lots draw comfort from that and it's something that I'm keen to explore going forwards but I'll need to do some reading up on it all as I'm not exactly green fingered! Thanks so much for your message of good luck. The appointment went well though they've got to do a few more tests before they can make a decision on what they think the best course of action is going forwards.
This is such a positive post! Thankyou! I just wanted to add sometimes there are things you have to give up, I used to act, but they must be replaced by other actives that you enjoy. I say to people I've replaced walking with yoga and pilates, and acting with embroidery. 😂 Not only do I have things to look forward to but I've made more friends too. Good look with your assessment. X
Hi Karenanne61 that's a real shame that you had to give up your acting but I completely understand why. I had to do the same with football, swimming etc but as you say have looked to replace them with things that I can do like golf and the exercise bike. Completely agree that that's really important as you accept your ever changing new normals.
My sister is the actor in the family - she loves her am dram and is really talented. I, sadly, am not blessed in that department at all. What type of acting did you do? Were you into musicals or were you more in to the straight acting plays and roles?
Hi! I've only ever used an exercise bike in the gym and then only cuz I had to, I read whilst on it! 🤣 I played lots of different parts, not musicals though, from Alice in Wonderland and Christopher Robin to very serious parts like Rosie in Dancing at Lughnasa, taking in panto and comedy along the way. I loved it and keep in touch with my friends and visit the theatre when I can. What type of roles does your sister prefer?
Absolutely Kristicats . Very easy to slip out of the habit and start to feel sorry for ourselves whereas getting back into it again is remarkably difficult especially when you know it's going to be more difficult to begin with because you've got out of shape.
Well done and thanks for sharing. I’ve just been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis and like you loved my running to keep me mentally fit and healthy. Haven’t been able to run for 6 months. But if You can do it so can I. Good luck with the transplant assessment.
Hi Active60 . Really sorry to hear about your recent bronchiectasis diagnosis. A lot to get your head round especially to begin with. My lung disease is different but I've started to pick up a bit of bronchiectasis, too, in the upper lobes where the scarring is happening and the infections when I've got them with the mucus build up have really knocked me for six. PR is key, I've heard, so I'd be pushing to get on a course for that if you haven't already. There are also some really good classes online that are worth taking a look at. They'll also show you the huff technique to help you clear some of all that gunk.
I'm no expert on the exercise front but I'd start slowly and start pushing those boundaries bit by bit. I find the cold air doesn't help at all so if you can maybe do your exercise indoors at least until it warms up a bit. Best of luck and all the best going forwards
Dodgylungsrunner thanks for taking time to reply. I am being referred to PR and follow up CT scan for ground glass opacity too. Feeling upbeat at the moment (probably because I’m on another course of a/b and steroids, but this time at the correct dose and duration!). I used to regularly run 5k and used to time 10k and ½ marathons. Now I am trying to build my strength and stamina to get back to at least running Park runs.
Thank you so much for the inspiration. Sometimes I am guilty of not doing something simply because it’s easier not to. Wishing you all the best for today 😊
We're all guilty of avoiding doing things that require effort HungryHufflepuff . So much easier to do nothing and with the lung disease I find I've always got a ready excuse. I'm just trying to enjoy it and not be too down on myself if it doesn't go too well.
4.3 Kilometers is very good, especially for someone with Dodgy Lungs! So well done! The Pandemic/ Lockdown and yet another Hospitalisation with Pneumonia, put an end to my 3 miles, over each week, Swim. I've just not returned to it. But, really must try, to.
Thanks Dubba61 . I was definitely happy with 4.3k for my first effort. Going again tomorrow and hopefully will be able to go a fraction further. Sorry to hear about your recent hospitalisation with pneumonia which will understandably have put the swimming on hold for a bit. I know that it takes time to get back into things again after pneumonia so start slowly and don't be too hard on yourself to begin with if/when you do give it a go.
Hope it went well Dodgy. And yes, your right, the pneumonia, plus being past 60 now, does make a difference, to fitness levels. Hopefully I will start my Swimming again when the better Weather comes. 👍
Very positive outlook An achievement for you and so great to do what you love to do and have missed. Me -I hate running but use my walking as an indication of my fitness. Take care. ☝️For you x
Thanks watergazer ! Walking is brilliant and I agree is a great indicator of fitness too. I'm fine on the flat but bring any kind of incline in to play and it's a very different challenge. How far do you tend to walk generally?
At the moment 10000 steps is my daily target though some days I may walk 5 miles. I’ve discovered my legs don’t like to do a long stint in one go now - I get painful knees or hips and sore muscles. I find going up inclines is becoming harder x keep up the running x
Oh so true I carried on walking for as long as I could. I actually accepted it as a measure of my deterioration. Walking 3 miles an hour became a mile. Oxygen levels took longer to recover. This was a useful gauge However this also spurred me on to walk places I may not have done, including completing the S W coastal path, the Pembrokeshire and Thames path. Now 6 steps to the toilet needs 12 litres of oxygen, but the walks live with me. If I get new lungs I have a lot more walks planned. Keep challenging yourself.
mary1956 good to hear from you! Sounds like you've done some incredible walks in your time. I've walked bits of the SW coastal path but never the whole thing which is hugely impressive! The scenery is beautiful and I'm not surprised that it lives with you even now. Really sorry to hear that your lung condition has progressed to the point where going to/from the toiled is your new everest but I'm sure you tackle that with the same enthusiasm. Got everything crossed that you do get a new set of lungs. Are you currently on the transplant waiting list?
Thanks Gingerboy1960 ! Transplant assessment went ok but still got a few hoops to jump through yet including some further tests before I find out whether I'm eligible or not to go on the list. In the meantime, I've just got to keep going! Hope you're well and thanks so much for all your support.
Yes I’ve been on the transplant list for 19 months. Yes lots of walking including Everest Base Camp. Still planning a few UK ones. Good luck with your plans
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