I looked out at the darkness at 5:45 am this morning and decided my son could stay in bed. I admit I went back to bed too, and I would run solo later in the day.
I'm still struggling a little mentally to get my head to believing that 25mins is achievable but that wasn't my only hurdle today. As I was on the final 5 minute cool down, I realised I felt extremely itchy around my neck, ears and torso, complete with several hives!?
Now I hadn't worn anything different today and sort of think that I'm just allergic to exercise?
Anyone else have any experience of this...or is it just it's the first really cold day today?
Written by
DIZZIC
Graduate
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My goodness, that sounds irritating. I've not heard of it before, and if you hadn't changed your running kit, or your washing powder I can't imagine why you got this itchiness. I'm not sure that you can be allergic to exercise.... but who knows. Perhaps someone else can offer you some advice.
It could just be the fact that your skin is cold (even if you feel hot) and the clothing has rubbed you (I hope it is nothing worse).
You have done really well and it is now a mental battle to do the longer runs. I struggled with week 7 but can now run for over an hour so there is hope!
Many years ago, I used to get a similar thing on my thighs when I exercised in cool in-between type weather. My Dr at the time suspected it was cold hives or cold urticaria where your body reacts immunologically to the cold. I would get incredibly itchy hives on my legs. His recommendation was to use antihistamines prior to exercising. I don't really recall if it helped but I haven't noticed it in recent years and I've taken to running (skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, etc) in very cold Canadian temperatures (I hope I haven't just cursed myself 🙊). I suspect I've gotten better at dressing appropriately and I only use perfume free soaps etc because I also have eczema . Anything to reduce skin irritation and temperature extremes. I also wonder if the sweat wicking base layer tights I wear under my clothes has made a difference as well perhaps.
My husband had something similar a few years ago ...
Pretty scary when it happened, his was from a cycle ride, felt itchy, went to take a shower and he was covered in welts so we took him to an urgent care and they called an ambulance for a&e
...
But it was an isolated incidence never happened again...
Happened to my husband in a rainstorm on the Dordogne...red hot day.. and then the storm and his whole body really red and itching... it did pass though, after a bath with some salt in
It's definitely an urticaria, either cold or heat induced, probably heat in your case. I get it after I've warmed up at every session of outdoor exercise. Antihistamine if required though I prefer not. You're doing really well though, it's definitely a mental challenge now. You can do it!
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I think it's just about a year
W7R1 - loving the runs now
W7R1 Worst weather + thinking time = best run!
