This morning I did my first ever C25K run. Being asthmatic, I have had major health issues over the last few years. Consultant gave the go ahead to start running again. (Last decent run 2007)
So after finding excuse after excuse not to start, I finally put on my running gear (I need new stuff as mine is old haha) and I completed my first run, despite feeling like my chest was on fire on the penultimate 1 minute run.
I didn’t have any wheezing or coughing whilst out and I think I may have conquered the fear of having an asthma attack while running. Looking forward to my run number 2.
My legs hurt (12 hours post run) but it’s a good pain. I think I’m going to do a bit of yoga tomorrow to help stretch my muscles out.
Any advice from those with asthma/running is much appreciated. I am so determined to get back to a good level of fitness again!
Loving this forum by the way. 😊
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FightingAsthma
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Welcome to the forums and back to running. Well done getting started.
My daughter is asthmatic and did C25k with me. The advice I would give is actually the same as with any other new runner, and is especially important to returning runners… keep it slow and steady! I was one such retuning runner and of course I could chew up run 1 and spit it out… only I couldn’t… I thought it was going to kill me… I survived and then listened to people here and ran it the right way the next time! On a side note, my daughter still carries her inhaler but doesn’t need it any more, we just keep an eye on the expiration date and order a new one from time to time!
You can do this and anything else you want to… enjoy your journey.
I’m glad your daughter is doing well with it too. I’m so determined to improve my lung capacity and I know running is going to help with that. I just need to practise the slow jog rather than trying to ‘run’.
Indeed. I also have a friend who does ultramarathons and is asthmatic… in the years I’ve known him (and a lot prior) he hasn’t had any issues. Anything is possible… the lung capacity will improve and slower running is the way to do that… if you really want to be fast you can do that later. Personally I don’t enjoy the fast stuff, when my running plan says tempo I procrastinate 🤣
Congratulations on getting out there. I don’t have any specific advice apart from taking it slowly and following the programme but I’ll be here cheering you on.
Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.
Do not jog faster than a pace at which you can speak aloud clear ungasping sentences as you go.
Counterintuitively, it is an easy conversational pace running that builds your stamina and endurance, not fast running.
Say this sentence out loud to yourself "Am I going slow enough to enable me to speak this sentence in one out breath?" If you cannot, you are going too fast.
I had asthma when younger which made jogging less than easy but my asthma disappeared over time. Hope yours does as well. I do not have any special advice about running with asthma but evidently you should take it easy if you have an attack. I would take an inhaler with me when running in case of an attack. Incidently, leg pain after running that disappears after 24 hours is perfectly normal.
Hi, I've got Asthma and never thought I'd be able to run - tonight I completed W9 R2 (30 mins). I take my blue inhalor before running and 9 times out of 10 I don't need it during running (but always have it with me). I've recently transferred to outdoor running which I think is helping my lung capacity.
As the others said, go at your own pace - slow and steady wins the race.
That’s fantastic! Well done. I ran many years ago from school. Thought it would be easy but nope! I’ve found a pace that works now though. It can only get better 😊
Good luck with your runs - I don’t have asthma but slow running and fitness has definitely helped clear up other health issues I had. I’m a new graduate and a new runner I’ve never ran in my life. As everyone here will say run slow this is the key.
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