Headwinds and breathing - failed parkrun

Anyone else really suffer in the very high winds? I can just about manage being blown about, but when the headwind is so strong that I can’t catch my breath, my body goes into a sort of ‘panic’ mode and I can’t deal with it. Does this happen to anyone else? I tried turning my head from the wind and covering my mouth with my hand/ buff but the wind was so bad today it was relentless and I just could get over it. I know it’s sometimes a case of mind over matter, and I’ve never stopped during a run before or stopped because of weather conditions but It defeated me today and I’m so disappointed. I couldn’t complete park run today for this first time ever because of this. I tried walking for a bit to try and recover, but it was like running whilst drowning in treacle and I just could do it. Gutted. I did come home and do 5k instead in less blustery conditions so at least I got a run in but I just wondered if any one else suffers? It didn’t seem to affect the other people doing parkrun this morning so maybe it’s something I just need to learn to deal with?!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Poor you. Certainly not a fail. This is a good lesson on what you can and can't run in. You tried, and then found alternative route. Well done. Happy safe windless running

[Hidden in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you Grannytobe (no longer 😂) I had to drive all the way home, but I’m glad it wasn’t as windy here as it was there 👍🏼

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Why are we so hard on ourselves sometimes and comparing ourselves to others.

You went you tried and you had to stop because you couldn't breathe properly I'm sure a lot of us would have and as you told me earlier it was along a beach front.

Hope your 5k made you feel better🤗🤗

[Hidden in reply to Buddy34]

Thanks buddy for your encouragement. It was on the coast, so a tad windier than elsewhere yes. I did feel better after completing my usual 5k yes, thank you 😊

[sTrongFuse Graduate10]

I had something a bit similar back in June. It wasn't the weather in my case, simply that I got my pacing all wrong. Bombed out just shy of 2k, drove home then took my frustration out on the pavements of my village and set (what was then) my second best 5k time. Sometimes our bodies just don't do things the way we want to. Running into strong winds is tough though, it does seem to suck the breath out of you.

Well done on your post-parkrun 5k. Sometimes, you just have to get straight back up on the horse (although not literally, as that would be cheating...)

[Hidden in reply to sTrongFuse]

Thank you strongfuse. I appreciate your reply - it’s made me feel better 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

My PR was very windy today too. I find I have to treat wind like a hill and shorten my stride. Also, whenever the wind dropped a tiny bit, it felt like one of the PRs I do that has one constant uphill for the first half, some bits steeper than others. The less steep bits actually feel like a relief, even though on their own they’d be difficult. So today, when we reached a point that was somewhat sheltered from the wind it felt almost easy! 💨💨💨

So mind over matter in my case.

Having said that, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with walking when the conditions aren’t enjoyable, and your run certainly wasn’t a fail. 👊

[Hidden in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you for your reply cheeky chipmunks. I think it’s windy everywhere today isn’t it. Well done for completing your PR today 👍🏼

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Hi Hidden ....please, please don’t be disappointed with your park run..my last post was about a windy run...and when I say windy I mean windy...gale force, it was ridiculous...I couldn’t catch my breath and had to check my eyeballs were still in tact, I couldn’t feel my hands or legs because I was so cold and my feet were soaked because of the streams of water cascading down the pavements....but I wasn’t disappointed and neither should you..I felt a bit stupid that I’d tried to run in those conditions but in fairness to myself I didn’t realise it was so windy before I’d set off...I got a bit panicky too, it doesn’t happen very often and I’m sure it won’t happen to you very often either, the winds have been exceptionally strong lately so it’s no wonder you had to stop...you’ve done your run today so put that park run behind you, next time you go it will be better....wind is one thing but gale force or gusty is another

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

Thanks so much mummycav you’ve made me feel loads better 😊 I didn’t think the wind would be that strong either... stupid really considering it was on the coast 🙄 I’m glad it’s not just me that gets a bit panicky too. I’ll choose a non-coastal PR until we’re over this stormy weather ⛈ Well done on your run 💪🏼 it’s not ‘easy’ out there at the moment ☺️

[Annieapple Administrator]

I can take heat, high humidity, snow,ice even, rain ☔️ downpour even, but I cannot run in very strong winds!! Hate them. I feel unstable, my hearing aids go crazy. Beanies & tuques help & changing to a more sheltered run..but I can’t agree with you more!! You have my full sympathy!!

[Hidden in reply to Annieapple]

Me too Annieapple! Thank you for your reply and your sympathy. Fingers crossed for more settled weather soon 😕

[RunningMigster]

Dont be so hard on yourself.

Sounds like really bad conditions.

You can do the park run. You can do pace, you can do distance. Sometimes, the weather is just a hurdle to much. We're allowed to be beaten by the weather. It doesn't make us bad people or failures. It's just one of those things.

Be kind to yourself.

Mig

[Hidden in reply to RunningMigster]

Thanks mig. I really appreciate your reply and your words of wisdom 😊

[Archerygoddess 60minGraduate]

HATE wind with a passion! Hats off to you for running what? 7 or 8k in total? in these conditions. I wimped out and opted for a fast 2.5k instead of my usual route. You were definitely braver than me.

[Hidden in reply to Archerygoddess]

Thank you! Nearly 7 in total. Well done for getting out there. I figured a run is a run whatever the distance 👍🏼

[ArthurJG Graduate10]

Just to be clear, there’s nothing mind over matter about not being able to breathe. It’s not mental weakness to stop for that reason, it’s common sense.

My home parkrun is noted for being windy and a headwind can slow me down a lot. One time I was on for a possible PB, probable second best time but I turned into a headwind only half a kilometre from home and missed the PB by two whole minutes.

You ask what people do and I haven’t actually thought about it. I THINK I instinctively run with my head down if the headwind is very strong but I’m not actually sure. But if the wind was so strong that you couldn’t even walk into it then it would be foolhardy to try to run into it. You did the right thing so don’t give yourself a hard time.

[Hidden in reply to ArthurJG]

Thanks ArthurJG. It seems a bit daft now that I was so disappointed in myself, now that I’ve had a chance to review the situation. At the time though I couldn’t understand how everyone else at PR was managing to keep going. On reflection, I know that I couldn’t have kept going and I know that was the right decision for me. So thank you for reassuring me 😊

[ArthurJG Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Not daft, a normal human reaction. You weren’t feeling great anyway, that’s why you stopped and having to stop made you feel worse because nobody is at their most rational at that moment. But you now know you did the right thing and it sounds like you know what the problem was and it wasn’t anything medical to worry about. Plus you got your miles done another way so it’s all good.

[mrrun Graduate10]

I find the high winds infuriating. Yes, you can run in blustery conditions (away from falling trees and branches though) but the quality of your run will suffer. The rhythm and breathing will be affected, your heart rate will do a rollercoaster, in short, you are unlikely to enjoy the experience. The only two guys who will benefit from the point of strength exercise will be your legs. Nowadays I try not to run under 10k as part of my training but today it was so bad (and l was on a hilly/windy stretch) that after 7k l reached the peak and thought, that's ludicrous I'm off. No fun, no joy, no run. That was only the second time in 3.5 years. Today l just hated it. Tomorrow is the new day.

[Hidden in reply to mrrun]

You’ve just perfectly described what happened to me yesterday. Hopefully not an experience to be repeated

[Wizziewood Graduate10]

Lots of advice above so I won’t repeat it.

All I will say is well done you for giving it a try. I don’t run in winds of over 20mph particularly if it’s pouring with rain as well. I’ll be jolly glad when this spell of windy weather passes through.

You still rain 5k so don’t be hard on yourself. Happy running!

[Hidden in reply to Wizziewood]

Thank you 😊