Cold air asthma and some new coping strategies 🥶

[BonniesRest]

Well it was all going brilliantly, and then the last few runs I’ve been struggling with breathing.

Thinking it’s about having started trail running around our hill, I sought advice and worked with it, but still struggling and needing to run and walk, so I thought I’d try a flat-ish run this morning.

Breathing still tricky so I can only put it down to the cold weather bringing on the asthma. I take a preventer and the

reliever 15mins before the run just in case, and it’s worked a dream throughout C25K through March - September, but not cutting it now.

I’ve got to Week 5 of the magic plan (timed) and loving it - I am not defeated! 💪

So - I’ve done some research and am encouraged to learn that there are a few incredible runners that have to work with asthma and am taking some of that advice. 🏃‍♀️

I’m naturally doing interval runs to catch up the breathing - running and walking intermittently, and as the run goes on it gets much better.

I’ve ordered a buff/snood to keep my nose and mouth covered 😷 which I hope will help warm up the cold air, and I’m going to keep going with intervals through the cold air months and keep going! People with asthma - we’ve got this! 💪🥶🏃‍♀️💃

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

I admire your determination; you are certainly trying hard to find out what will help you cope with the colder mornings.

I’m fortunate just to have mild asthma and I don’t take a preventer any more. Mine is affected by the air quality, not the temperature, and even then I’m ok if I run slowly.

Good luck with the intervals! 🙂👍

[BonniesRest in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Jools! On the whole the asthma has been better because of running, and I was denying it’s presence! Going to take 2 days off and looking forward to a 50 minute run on Saturday so will see how I get on. 🌞

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate10]

I’ve had similar experience on recent runs (haven’t suffered with asthma since I lived next to a major city road years ago) and it was quite a shock but like Jools2020 I seem to be able to overcome it if I run slowly at start or first 1K and get a good warm up beforehand. Well done for perseverance and hope it eases off for you.

[BonniesRest in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

Thankyou - yes I think the food warm up with slow jogging may be the answer, and maybe allow a bit more time for it.

[BonniesRest in reply to BonniesRest]

🤣 food? Interesting typo!

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Well done... I am a fellow asthma sufferer, and I really struggle too in the Winter. But there are strategies as you have discovered. If its below 5, I go out with my buff over my mouth and nose, as it warms the air a bit. I dont push it as I get really panicky about my breathing. Keeping your chest area really warm will help too.

[BonniesRest in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks Ju-Ju. Will do that. Yes the panic doesn’t help - walking eases it, then I start to relax and it gets better as I warm up the longer I’m out there moving about.