Running in the buff......

[earl-grey-sian]

....or more accurately, a buff.

After complaining in previous blogs about the effect the cold air has on my aged asthmatic lungs, I thought I would heed your advice and try breathing through a buff. It was not a great success, it made me incredibly hot and felt very claustrophobic. Anyway, the result was that I failed to repeat my success of Saturday and could not manage the second of my eight minute runs without 3 very brief walking interludes when on a gradual half mile long incline. I will try this run again before tackling the dreaded 20 minute continuous session.

My 20 year old daughter is home from university and joined me for the first time today. She hardly goes running, and although she was very sweet, entirely put me to shame. I just consoled myself with the thought that she's not even half my age, and probably not even half my weight either!!

[BigEd]

Hi Sian, kids eh? I wear a buff on my motorbike but not while i am running. I think they are too hot for that. I often start off with a hat and gloves and end up taking them off too.

[earl-grey-sian Graduate in reply to BigEd]

She did her best to be kind to me but eventually I just gave her the car key and told her I'd see her back there. It's a good job I love her! x

[BigEd in reply to earl-grey-sian]

Like i said, kids eh?

[earl-grey-sian Graduate in reply to BigEd]

I didn't think I was doing too badly, until today. Now I feel like a three toed sloth in slow motion (except I have a full compliment of lower limb digits)

[BigEd in reply to earl-grey-sian]

You will be fine if you just take your time.

[Pearsey]

Ah! Sian, That's bad news. I would never use a buff for this reason. Get yourself a cotton scarf-that will help a lot and not make you so hot. I don't know how you managed to run at all-but hats off to you you did run. Try it again and you will do it.

Don't be so negative about yourself or the negativity will win! Look at the positive. You got out there and ran. Your daughter is younger and fitter than you-I would expect her to be able to do it. Just pace yourself and you will get there. Find the right protector that you like-a headband (Alice band we used to call them)?? I saw someone used one of those with success on one of the blogs.

Rooting for you....

Keep on Running!

Colette x

[Foylefiend Graduate]

Hi Sian,

I've had the same problem but having read your blog this evening I decided to do some research on the Internet, which suggested trying to breathe through your nose as then the air isn't so cold when it reaches your throat. So I dragged myself out at 0 degrees and tried breathing in thru my nose and out thru my mouth and it was definitely better.

Last couple of runs my chest has been hurting and I've been struggling to breathe within 10 mins but it was over 25 mins before I noticed any problems and I managed to complete my run ( which is more than I can say about the last one....) Didn't manage to breathe thru my nose the whole time, and the article I read politely suggested making sure you take a tissue which was VERY good advice but I really do think it made a difference. Let me know if works for you if you try it. FF