As you may or may not know, I have struggled with running my whole life. No matter how fit I seem to be through other activities, I have said for years that for some reason I just cannot run. My breathing is unbelievably bad and within 5 minutes I cannot get breath, and understandably soon after I completely run out of energy.
I don't know how many people over the years have said to me 'Everyone can run', 'You just have to focus', 'Its all in your head' etc etc and I have tried and tried, but it just doesn't get any better.
Then I went out today running with my sister (I ran, she walked behind). She's a nurse. So I ran 14 minutes, had to stop at that point (thats about the furthest I can get), spend about 5 minutes coughing my lungs up (I don't smoke) and then gasp my way back to meet her. I explained to her that I seem to continue to get more breathless after I stop running, for about 5 or 10 mins and my chest has a certain tightness for maybe an hour or two after a run, and I seem to get loads of phlegm after a run.
She said they are all absolutely classic signs of exercise induced asthma and if I have it, it will not get better by itself :(
It would be a fair assumption. I had asthma as a child, but not severely, and stopped taking any meds from I was a teenager as I wasn't really doing any sports so it wasn't really affecting me. But I have had this issue anytime I have tried to run any distance. I also have eczema, and asthma and eczema are closely linked.
Now, this has big implications for me. I am trying to get into the police and have been for years and always seem to come up against bloody obstacles. I am going running to try to get to the level of fitness required for the police. So I am in a vicious circle here as going to the doctor at this stage for what potentially may be asthma is going to be another opportunity for the police to give me a big, fat 'NO' when it comes to my medical (which I am currently waiting for).
But looks like this could explain my difficulties in running, it makes perfect sense.
I don't know what to do.
I have to say, 14 minutes of running is nothing to be sniffed at? Although the after effects do not sound pleasant, thats for sure.. but don't beat yourself up/give up just yet? You are obviously pretty fit and the police would be darn lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind, thank you so much!
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