I am an off-road runner and I love to run out on the heathlands and in the woods near where I live. Unfortunately at this time of year running in these beautiful places comes with a price for a hayfever suffer like me - the tree pollen. I only started suffering from hayfever three years ago and it is tree pollen that I am most sensitive to. My symptoms thankfully improve as the season progresses.
I set off on my Consolidation Run 5 early this morning to try and avoid the pollen, but I was wheezing despite the anti-histamines and earlier hour. The pollen count is particularly high today in the South Downs. I haven't experienced a wheezy run before, so just had to slow my pace down and settle my breath.
I was surprised at how quiet it was this morning; I didn't meet any other runners and only one dog walker. Our local community facebook page (run by a local community action group of volunteers) has, at the request of other members of the community, politely asked that runners no longer jog through our little market town, requesting that they use the nearby common land instead or walk the section along the short high street if passing through. The response has been compliant and the comments on the post positive so far. I can't help but notice (from recent tv coverage and this FB post) that runners seem to be getting a bit of negative press at the moment; I do hope this isn't the start of something that may lead to restrictions for running outdoors.....
I want to finish on a lighter note.....
Out of curiosity, I ran Strava on my phone as I ran this morning. The GPS signal was rather patchy at best and the stats hilarious for a new graduate of C25k. According to Strava I ran a pace of 4:15/km!! The little red line route on the map flipped and jumped all over the place and only recorded 22 minutes moving time out of my 40 minutes outdoors. At the end of the run I had earned four new trophies in my virtual cabinet, including amazing PB times for 1 mile, 1km and 400 metres and could consider myself well on the way to training for the next Olympics!! Needless to say I have had to delete the whole lot and enter the run manually so my stats don't get completely skewed. I'm a long way off any of those PBs, ever!!
I feel your pain with the hay-fever - same here as only started suffering with it a few years back. Hate it, but running outside is such a boost - especially when the sun's putting on a show.
I know. I couldn't do without running outdoors, especially now. I shall try taking my anti-histamine a little earlier before my next run to see if it helps. Happy running.
I don't see how walking rather than running through an area makes any difference (unless there are lots of people there, which thee shouldn't be!) surely it is better to run as you get through it quicker!! 🙄
Shame about your hay fever Delly-dot. You must have been sprinting today according to strava , don't bother sometimes this happens. I hope your symptoms are better now you've completed your run.
Can I ask , do you take an antihistamine every day , it's just that my daughter was once told to take 1 every day from march to October. It seemed to help😊😊
Hi Buddy. Strava was bonkers this morning - it made me laugh though - they would have me on the Olympics' training squad if those stats had been for real 🤣!
Thank you for your advice and yes, I do take an anti-histamine each morning. I begin each spring as soon as my symptoms start, so I've been taking them for a month already. It usually helps but today's pollen count is particularly high here and running in the woodlands and on the common won't help, but I don't have many other options and it is beautiful there. I shall try to go out even earlier for my next run and hope that it helps a little.
Lovely story of your run, despite the tree pollen. I hope they don’t bring in a complete lockdown like they have elsewhere, but if people keep congregating in parks then I fear they may. Keep enjoying it, and keep posting your cheery posts 😁
Yes, I’m fine thanks. I miss the running, but it’ll be there when this over. I watch the news with horror every evening and can’t be annoyed at staying home when I see the front line workers risking their lives, and the poor victims of this atrocity.
On a happier note, I took delivery of a skipping rope yesterday, and am going to try and increase my sadly lacking strength and stamina, so you just watch me go when I’m finally released!! 😂😂😂
I think some runners can be so focussed that they aren't aware of the people around them and take 'priority' over others. I've experienced this myself even before the lockdown. We all need to stay super aware of others at the moment.
Hi Delly-dot. Glad to hear you're able to run in spite of pollen season.
I was interested in the jogger ban. I'm definitely not decorative when running and could be banned on that alone, but other than sweaty, red, and slow not sure what peril I bring. Is it volume of outsiders coming thru?
I had the same issue on Strava. It was a fun read, but confusing when your in the run.
The comment alluded to the increased number of people out running through the town; I guess it's because the gyms etc are now closed. Our town is a small rural market town surrounded by lovely countryside, so runners will be able to find plenty other places to run, but if you have to run through town to access them the request is to now walk that bit instead.... 😔. Again, like you, I am unsure what increased risk a jogger really brings in comparison to anyone else but there you go...
So sorry to hear your community would not want you running in the Market town. Others are using runners to deliver prescriptions etc. Also a pain re hay fever...the Bain of life for some. Anti-histamine changes my world...amazing stuff. I do hope we are all able to continue to run out of doors. Do take care. Happy running 🏃♀️🧚♀️🌼🌳🙋🏻♀️
Yes, me too (probably the same one). It just seems a shame to target one group of the community similar with cyclists or dog walkers. Anyway enough of our negative...I am pleased you got out there...Big Hankie at the ready. Take care. 😎🙋🏻♀️
Sorry about the hayfever Delly-Dot. You obviously have a lovely place to run and despite the Strava drama it sounds like it went well! I don't think we will be prevented from running if we are all sensible. I never run on the roads/pavements and am finding more and more places to run off road and away from people!
Take care - I love how you are loving your runs! Me too, I am obsessed!
I've seen a couple of things on the news recently where people are complaining about joggers running up behind them from out of no where and breathing heavily - see my last post where a couple decided to shield themselves from me by hiding behind a parked car. If I had been wearing a face mask I perhaps could have forgiven them for thinking I looked like a mugger!!!
Everyone I have met during my runs has been absolutely fine and called hello. I think it's the proximity on pavements that's the problem, but running in the wilds negates that problem 🌳🏃♀️🌲😊
Ohhhhhh DD the dreaded hayfever I sympathize wholeheartedly, I'm Lucky in as much as I can breathe freely, it thankfully doesn't affect me 🤞 it's the UV Ray's that's get me so whereby you sniffle and snuffle 🤧 I itch like prickly heat x a zillion.
There's also lots more people running and cycling where I used to see only a few, they look as if they're listening and observing the safe practice of space and solo activity 👍 long may it last...
PS
You'll be the first c25k graduate at the Olympics well done you 😂
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Yes, all the runners I've come across are going out of their way to maintain the distance rule, and so are the walkers and dog walkers too.
I noted in your post about the sun-cream - the red hair runs in my family too, so my teenage son is being liberally caked in SPF by me before he heads out on his bike. You can just imagine what he thinks of that.....!
Ooooooooooh I'm getting a strong scent of calomine lotion 😬 I used to bathe in the stuff 😭
I sympathise with the hay fever, I too suffer with tree pollen and run in the forest but I loved your Strava story. A good friend of mine, who is in his late 70s but still an avid cyclist bought an Apple Watch. He was over the moon when his first statistics showed his speed as almost 65mph, he had had it set to record a cycle ride ready for the next day and then drove his car!!
I ve suffered terribly with hay fever through the years . Thankfully the older I get the better it gets . My tip is to take the antihistamine before you go to bed . It s more in your system then for a morning run . Just a thought 🤷♀️. Try it one night , see what you think 🤔. You re not related to Roger Bannister then 😂. .... sorry , couldn’t resist 😉
I feel your pain. I suffer with hay fever and have for the last 25 years... rape seed flowers set it off back then and now it’s from tree pollen right through to October. The worst bit is the itchy eyes. I don’t sneeze or wheeze but my eyes itch and feel like they have grit in them. And then by the summer my whole body itches and I nearly rip my nose off sometimes.
I take an anti histamine as soon as I get up and I have a nasal spray too. I wear sunglasses nearly all year too. At the moment my daily contact lenses are only lasting about 4 hours a day as they keep feeling gritty and dry. I’m using eye drops for lens wearers too. And then when I put my glasses on my sinuses are stuffy and make my nose ache too.
Sorry end of whinge!!!! Shame cos I love spring and summer 😭
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