First cold run, and it reminded me with a bang that I have asthma. Only managed to run for 25 minutes as a full blown attack was threatening and after gasping hopefully at my inhaler I realised that in a moment of stultifying stupidity I'd brought an empty one. Not good.
I'm not going to call it a fail though, there was no particular aim in mind today, I was just looking forward to running off the house selling/buying stress, so to run 25 minutes was better than not to have run at all. And if there's an upside, before the asthma hit it was my fastest time. Even my average pace was faster than my pre graduation runs, so not all doom and gloom. My times are trending faster, according to the apps, so I'll take the positives and just accept that if you can't breathe you can't run. My legs were doing great, but once that cold wind was in my face my breathing refused to play.
So. Going forwards, there are going to be many more cold days. Any suggestions for controlling astmha that is inevitably induced by cold weather? As always, any advice welcome. I did remember my steroid inhaler (Fostair) before the run. Might have to switch my Montelukast to mornings?? This won't make much sense to non astmhatics ...sorry.
Anyway, any run is better than no run, but I wish summer would come back, at least for a bit!
Happy running folks...
Written by
Scout37
Graduate
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I feel for you! My (mild) asthma is triggered by humidity and I just take my inhaler before I run. I don’t have to take preventative medication any more, just reliever.
25 minutes is still great! Imagine seeing it as a fail before you started this journey? No advice for the asthma i’m afraid as luckily not a sufferer, just hope it doesn’t hinder you too much in the coming months 🤞🏼
I sometimes use both the preventer and the reliever just before I go out. But mine is fairly mild. I think the main thing is that you stay safe to run another day: take it more slowly in windy conditions and make sure you have a good inhaler to hand.
Yep, definitely learnt my lesson about checking the inhaler level before I set off! Might take the Fostair with me too, it can act as an emergency save and is very effective for me.
I think I also need to learn that if astmha hits, it's ok to pause, use the inhaler, let it take effect and then finish the run. I'm still carrying the mentality of the initial programme that says you haven't completed a run if you have to pause for a minute or two! Need to ditch that way of thinking now. Had I had the Fostair inhaler and paused for a minute or two I'm pretty sure I could have done another 25 minutes.
I use my reliever around 10/15 minutes before I leave, and I’ve never needed to take it during a run since I started doing this after needing it on run 1. I do take one with me though of course. Cold is a trigger for me aswell. Maybe worth speaking to your asthma nurse at the drs x
Edit: I also take my steroid inhaler morning and evening as normal, but if I have a flare up (illness etc) I take it up to three times a day x
Similar. Yes, will ask the astmha nurse for a phone appointment. I really don't want more steroids! Last winter I was hardly ever off the damn things. Summer has been wonderful, astmha free. But this morning was bad, and it's really wiped me. I posted on here when I got home, fed the dogs then fell asleep. Only just woken now because the Amazon delivery man knocked on the door!
Thank you! I've just read and this is advice that I've been given. Great to see it's official advice, will give me more confidence to give it a go now.
I've found these past few weeks really tricky with my asthma... the humidity, the wind, the damp and now the chill in the air. It's not been fun!
I've been recommended to run with a light scarf/ covering around your mouth and nose when it's cold, apparently it warms the air so it's not as much of a shock to your lungs as you breath. I've not tried it yet but I'm going to give it a go when it gets cooler. I guess it'll take a while to get the right one though or I'll get the face mask problems of making my asthma worse 🙈
I think I'll be fine to run on Monday. Just tried walking the dogs wearing my lightweight sweatband over nose and mouth. Was ok for walking, not convinced I could run in it. Will search through my scarf drawer!
That was a good run, despite the asthma. I have no experience of asthma, but wish you good luck! Perhaps you could consult your gp about running in the cold sharp air of winter?
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