Remember, you can CLICK to enlarge the pictures of the work week and read where all the pieces are from.
I went running last night with a different group of people. We did a 7k huge loop, and they weren’t really loving the 10 minute on, 1 minute walking — but I said that I had to have that as my breathing was a bit mental. They didn’t realize what my breathing got like until it was loud. It’s all I can do though, that’s how I breathe when I run and I’m needing that break between minute 10 and 11. The two of the three people that went with us are personal trainers and they seemed quite concerned about my breathing and kept asking if I was alright. Embarrassing. I just nod, because I hate talking when I’m like that, hah. It just sounds as though I can’t get a deep breath in. They asked if I was wheezy, which I’m not — but they seemed to think so. One of them suggested I had asthma, or running induced asthma. I’m pretty sure I don’t, but then again I never really thought about it.
I have only been running for 4 months, but at the same time you’d think it would get better. I can run for longer distances but my breathing remains troublesome. Get this, I don’t think my breathing is terrible on treadmills. Then again, I haven’t been on a treadmill in months so I guess I wouldn’t really know if I hopped on one and ran distance.
Some of the suggestions that the runners told me (including my Boyf):
- Breath through your nose, out through your mouth (impossible)
- Lean over when you run up hills (much easier on your breathing, I tried it yesterday!)
- Slow down your pace (how much slower can I get!! I’m doing a 10 minute mile some days.
It’s just very difficult to go to a family doctor who is in a completely different city 40+ minutes away. Taking time off work, making that time up. Then probably getting referred to a specialist. Maybe I’m reading way too much into this, I’m not sure. But I’m really annoyed with my breathing. It’s why I need my one minute break in between the 10 minute runs. The trainers couldn’t get over that I fully recovered with that one minute break, and my breathing only affected me when I was at minute 7-8 or so.
Pain in the butt, that’s for sure. It could be nerves, it could even possibly BE asthma. Funny thing is that I can control is, so that makes me think it’s nerves. I need to mentally focus and challenge myself to say “this is a leisure run, you’re not running for time. You’re stronger than you think you are. Breathe slowly”. I think I miss running with my running buddy (we run together but still in groups), because she “calmed” my breathing down, ha.
I think I’m going to try and go for another run tomorrow, by myself — really slow (maybe) and see if I can control it. Because if I can, it’s nerves. Right? I gotta be right.
9 Comments
Your outfits continue to get more professional each week. Love all of the outfits you chose this week. Get the breathing checked out! If it’s just a mental thing, just knowing you’re okay health wise might help you kick the thoughts.
Nancy says: Thanks!
Breathing can be a mental thing, I’m not familiar with exercise-induced asthma though. I used to have a hard time with my breathing when I first started. I would get so distracted by my breathing that it was all I focused on, and I had a hard time slowing it down, and I would end up breathing even faster! When that happened, I started listening to music so that I couldn’t hear my own breathing and it would be more natural. Once I got the hang of it, I stopped listening to music on my runs so I wouldn’t be dependent on it and so I can be aware of my surroundings.
When I got a GPS watch with the heart rate monitor last May, I realized I was pushing myself too hard too. I was running the same pace for all my runs. I’m not super fast, I was probably doing 10 min miles. But my HR was high and my breathing was fast. So I started to slow down my runs and after a few weeks found that my HR and breathing had improved, and I began to pick up the pace again.
In any week, I usually do an easy, slow 2-3 mile run; a long distance slow run (I’m up to 9 miles again – Tuesday it was at an average pace of 11:40); and some kind of interval run (yesterday was 4x[1 mile @9:41; .5 mile@jog] with a mile warm up and cool down on either end for a total of 8 miles). I’m preparing for my second half marathon though, so I guess the focus of my training plan is more on endurance than speed. My 5k time last July was 30:39. (9:51). My April Half Marathon was 2:21:10 (10:46). I’m shooting for a pace of ~10:30 for my next half in September.
PS – Cute outfits!!
Nancy says: Thank you SO much for your comment!! Even when I think about running, or talk about running I still get that shortness of breath. That’s what I think it might be (a mental thing), but I’m not sure as I’m obviously not a Doctor. It’s a mental thing and I am focused on it when it gets out of hand. When I got my fitness assessment done at the gym a few months ago, they told me I hit my max heart rate just by walking on the treadmill. It IS all mental, because I get excited, happy, nervous when I workout that I do it on my own… my heart rate rises from me being excited I think.
I know that, pretending to be doctors, each person will tell you his own opinion….here is mine: I had never been in breath trobule…….until I was over 30 years old and turned out to be alergic to some seeds. I can´t do strong physic efforts during some periods in the year because my deep breathing becomes asthma. Some times I even need to take antihistamine medicines. The sooner you get some answers the better you will feel.
My favorite outfit is Thursdays!!! It is so classy and very cute Nancy!
okay first…love Monday’s outfit! As for the breathing it does sound like running induced asthma…you really should check it out because that can be dangerous!
Nancy says: I just e-mailed you
I love Wednesday’s outfit! So adorabs!
I’m a little new to your blog, but it’s great!
So the breathing – it really seems like it could be mental. I run a lot, and when I first started, I would get like that during 5ks or 10ks. As I started becoming more comfortable with running, it went away. Do you think you were nervous to be running with other people? I would still get it checked out just to be safe.
Love the outfits! Wednesday is my fave.
Keep up the good work!
Nancy says: Hey thanks for popping by! I’m trying to make an appt with my DR soon. But yes, I do get nervous when I go out for any physical activity, even though I try to coax myself that it’s just for fun, and not for any personal records. It’s weird :)
I love all of your outfits!! You have great style. I don’t think I’ve seen one outfit I didn’t like! :)
I’m the same way with the breathing. I hate it because it sounds like I’m dying! But, like you, I don’t breath like that on the treadmill! That’s so weird. If you don’t find the time, get checked out to see what’s going on!
I would be wise to go to the doctor and have a professional opinion.
Love your outfits, but my favourite this week is Friday.
Enjoy your weekend.