Anyone have any tips for asthmatic trying to run longer distances?

[MATTERHORN]

Hi all! I've done all 5k's up until now. I am signed up for the 10k for Food and Wine and am wanting to increase distance. But even with using my inhaler before the race and typically during, it's still hard to even complete a 5k. My fastest time to date has been 40 minutes. I'd love to get faster but not sure my lungs can take it and I don't LOVE the thought of using the inhaler that many times during a race.

Am I just out of luck? Anyone have any other tips for me? Thanks!!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Also, I did use the search function first, but most people posted they use their inhaler before the race and they are fine. That does not work for me!

 

[camaker]

Also, I did use the search function first, but most people posted they use their inhaler before the race and they are fine. That does not work for me!

It really seems more like this is a question for your doctor. What works for someone else might not work for your situation and might even be dangerous to you.

 

[CDKG]

I am a mild asthmatic and have run distances up to the marathon. First, I would recommend a discussion with your doctor so they can recommend the best regimen for you. Personally, I always use my albuterol before a run. I don’t typically need it during a run, but did have it with me in the beginning just in case. A few years ago my doctor recommended I use my preventive inhaler (Flovent) daily just to make sure my lungs are “happy” to begin with. As I mentioned, my asthma is mild, but seasonal allergies are a big trigger for me. So that preventive inhaler is especially important during tree pollen season. Good luck!

 

[MATTERHORN]

I am a mild asthmatic and have run distances up to the marathon. First, I would recommend a discussion with your doctor so they can recommend the best regimen for you. Personally, I always use my albuterol before a run. I don’t typically need it during a run, but did have it with me in the beginning just in case. A few years ago my doctor recommended I use my preventive inhaler (Flovent) daily just to make sure my lungs are “happy” to begin with. As I mentioned, my asthma is mild, but seasonal allergies are a big trigger for me. So that preventive inhaler is especially important during tree pollen season. Good luck!

Thank you! Maybe it's time to get on a preventative one. I've only ever had albuterol/rescue inhalers because I only get bad around pets and when I run. But if Flovent helps, I may look into that. I do usually have to use mine while running and I hate having to carry it.

 

[bumbershoot]

It really sounds like you need to go back to your doctor (hopefully a specialist and not just a GP...bonus points if it's a sports physician who is pro-running and is very knowledgable in asthma). Using the albuterol twice inside of 40 minutes isn't controlled, in my experience, and a doctor would want to know about it. I really hate the steroid inhalers (like flovent), but it's possible it could calm your immune sytsem down enough that you don't need the rescue inhaler that much.

While you wait for that appointment...

Slow down. Way way down.

Consider doing walk-run for now. That allows your lungs to recover during the rest portions. Check out Jeff Galloway for that. He is the one that does the training plans for rundisney, so there's info on him on rundisney. https://www.rundisney.com/running-expert-jeff-galloway/ Up at the top you can use the dropdown to get to his training plans and his tips, too.

 

[MATTERHORN]

It really sounds like you need to go back to your doctor (hopefully a specialist and not just a GP...bonus points if it's a sports physician who is pro-running and is very knowledgable in asthma). Using the albuterol twice inside of 40 minutes isn't controlled, in my experience, and a doctor would want to know about it. I really hate the steroid inhalers (like flovent), but it's possible it could calm your immune sytsem down enough that you don't need the rescue inhaler that much.

While you wait for that appointment...

Slow down. Way way down.

Consider doing walk-run for now. That allows your lungs to recover during the rest portions. Check out Jeff Galloway for that. He is the one that does the training plans for rundisney, so there's info on him on rundisney. https://www.rundisney.com/running-expert-jeff-galloway/ Up at the top you can use the dropdown to get to his training plans and his tips, too.

Oh gosh, that's what I already do! LOL. I run 30, walk 45 on pretty much every run. Every once in a while I try to reverse those, but I find like Jeff says, my time actually seems to slow down the more I run! Weird but true. I guess I was just hoping there was a special breathing technique or something else out there I wasn't doing. But maybe I just won't ever be able to do longer distances in the allotted time frames.

 

[bumbershoot]

See about the steroid inhaler. And maybe a running coach with knowledge of asthma.

 

[MATTERHORN]

See about the steroid inhaler. And maybe a running coach with knowledge of asthma.

Thank you, will do.

 

[MATTERHORN]

See about the steroid inhaler. And maybe a running coach with knowledge of asthma.

Where does one even find a running coach?