I woke up this morning full of nervous energy about starting my job tomorrow. I took Milhouse for a walk and realized that it was an absolutely gorgeous day out, and my legs were finally starting to feel normal again. So I decided to run just for the fun of it. I mean, look at this–blue skies, green grass, pretty leaves, 55 degrees. I couldn’t ask for nicer running weather.
I decided to keep it short and keep it in the neighborhood, where the hills aren’t very steep. I ran about 2 miles in 20:00 and then did a short cool-down walk. Unfortunately, the run wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped–my lungs just do not like chilly weather.
Rewind: when I was little, I had REALLY bad asthma. I couldn’t go outside in the fall (I’m incredibly allergic to most trees and dead leaves are the worst), and I couldn’t do any physical activity. Gym class was miserable for me–I remember having to run “THE MILE” twice a year and just wanting to die. I would get so nervous about it because I KNEW I was going to fail. I would try to run with my friends but I just couldn’t. I’d fall back and be embarrassed and try to push and wind up coming in last and having to go to the school nurse for my inhaler. I don’t doubt that this is part of the reason I avoided exercise growing up. By junior high, I was starting to outgrow it, and now, until I recently started running outside, I haven’t had trouble with it since then. I went off my asthma medications, and I can do just about everything without having breathing trouble.
Except run outside. Today, I got home, and for about half an hour, I felt like I was being absolutely strangled. Now I’m coughing and wheezing. It’s the scariest feeling. I hate to admit it’s back, but I think it is, and I think I need to go back to the doctor for some kind of treatment. I can’t let this stop me–I’ve got a half marathon to run!
What are your physical challenges? How have you overcome them?
No comments:
Post a Comment