Normal side effects when unfit: Hi Please can... - Couch to 5K

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Normal side effects when unfit

Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12Graduate
15 Replies

Hi

Please can people new to this or remember being new help.

I have asthma and my doctor recently changed my inhalers. I need to see if It helps, the problem is: I dont know what is my asthma and what is just being unfit. So what did you experience? E.g. cramping in legs, breathlessness etc.

Thanks so much :)

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Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12
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Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Lots of folk on here with asthma and I am sure you will get advice. :)

Being unfit... well, when you start this, (or at least this applied to many of us), your body lets you know about it... Many of us thought we may collapse and fade away in the first weeks...the first 90 second runs seemed endless and yet.... here we still are. :)

I thought, when I began, that I may die in that first week.. two and a half years later, I am still running three times a week and up to 10K.. and loving it ( I am 67!)

The key is very slow and very steady! Make sure you have your meds, and that you have the all clear from your asthma nurse or GP... and then very slowly... one step in front of the other...off you go!

Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12Graduate in reply to Oldfloss

Thanks. Im on week 3 and doing okay. Just bit worried now my inhaler is being changed. I usually feel breathless and today my chest hurt a tiny bit. Would you say thats normal or my asthma lol

Ive just finished week1. On the first day i thought i was going to throw up in the field i was running past, had trouble regulating my breathing and just generally thought i was going to die. Just completed run3 of week one can get home without the above feeling although still get out of breath but not as much

Rignold profile image
Rignold in reply to

I did throw up in a field during W1

I have also thrown up during a cross country race, on a rowing machine (but kept going) and in the gym.

It's a kinda badge of honour.

Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12Graduate in reply to Rignold

Wow I haven't been that worn out. Credit to you for continuing!

JaySeeSkinny profile image
JaySeeSkinnyGraduate in reply to Rignold

You're not setting a very good example here! You're supposed to say "if you're feeling nauseous, slow down" and then tell them the mantra "slow and steady". We can't have c25kers chucking up all over the place.....

Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12Graduate in reply to

Thanks. This is helpful. I was worried the breathlessness was my inhaler not working :).

Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12Graduate in reply to

By the way hatterschick, well done on starting! :)

in reply to Aquila12

Thankyou Aquila12 i knew i was unfit but didnt realise how bad lol

Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12Graduate in reply to

I know what you mean. Running is just crazy. I mean I can walk for hours so thought I wasnt too bad, started running and suddenly Cant breathe lol

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate

I have Asthma, best advice I can give based on my own experience is when it starts feeling like you trachea is a Lava tube you probably need to stop and see if you can recover either with or without a blast of the Inhaler... Have to say, I haven't felt that way in a long time come to think of it, this Running lark brings many many changes :)

Aquila12 profile image
Aquila12Graduate in reply to Irish-John

Good advice lol

Lets hope I can get to your stage :)

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate in reply to Aquila12

Believe me - you can. Read my earlier posts, I think you will find a lot of confidence in yourself subsequently ;)

pollyp1 profile image
pollyp1Graduate

No asthma but lots and lots of cramping in legs. Keeping very hydrated and taking magnesium tablets has helped me a lot. Maybe discuss with your gp tho, to be on the safe side.

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

I only developed proper asthma when I was on C25K :D I would say the difference between being breathless and your asthma kicking in is that when you are breathless (which is normal!) you can slow down and catch up with your breathing. When my asthma starts playing up on a run, which is rare*, nothing helps. I cannot get any more breath in.

* I manage it and it doesn't give me many problems now. Normally I only need a couple of puffs of Ventolin about 30 minutes before I go for my run. If it's cold out, or if it's especially polluted (city running or lots of pollen or a heavy, still day) then I might need more. If I'm coughing a bit at night then I'll put myself back on Seretide (purple inhaler) morning and night. If I have a bad cough/cold, I don't run until I'm (mostly) better.

Needless to say, I always take my inhaler with me!

Good luck and carry on, you'll be fine!

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