outdoor run

Thanks to Beckett Gladney for the photo above, which was taken out in California.

Went running outdoors yesterday. Asthma or no asthma, I couldn't stand the idea of running on an indoor treadmill yet again. I've been taking brisk walks outdoors every day to avoid going to the gym, but I knew that I wasn't getting as a good workout as when I run.

So I put on some trackpants, a turtleneck (synthetic material), a sweatshirt, fleece vest, my light running jacket, hat and gloves, went outside. It was cold, but I warmed up as I ran. Whenever I started to have trouble breathing, I'd walk for a bit. I noticed I mainly had problems when running into the wind, so stuck to the side of the street that was more sheltered.

I don't have bad asthma, or I wouldn't do this. I used to have an inhaler, but don't anymore; I'm usually fine except sometimes when exercising in cold weather. At its worst, it feels like my lungs are constricting. No matter how deeply I breathe, I feel as though I can't get enough air, I start wheezing a bit, and sucking in air is painful. By the end of yesterday, my chest was starting to hurt a bit, but otherwise I felt great. SO much more enjoyable than treadmill running.

When I got back, I did some research online and decided that next time I go out running, I'll wear a scarf over my mouth to help keep the air warmer, plus stick to non-windy areas as much as possible.

Canadian winters are way too long.