Question:

I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

Response:

Steve- What part of the country are you in?… I’m the exact opposite… I hate the summer months… It gets sooo hot… In the winter, you can always put on more clothing, but in the summer, you can only take off but so much … But, I live in Charlotte, NC, so our winter is pretty mild… If you live farther north, I could see where maybe your summers are more tolerable… Here, June, July, and August are all tough months to struggle through…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

Response:

I love early morning winter running.  The stars seem so close I could touch them. The darkness envelopes me.  I hear only my footsteps on the pavement. Yesterday, 30 mph winds, -6 wind-chill.  I did 6 miles at am.  Today, less wind and a balmy -5 wind-chill, wussed out at 5 miles. But then, I rarely, if ever, "let er rip".  I just plod along and feel happy to be alive and running.  If you think about it, Steve, you run for the same reasons.  To feel good, to feel alive.  Don’t wonder why you are "doing all this".  You know why.  You love it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

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Response:

I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

I have to agree with Chazzer here.  I find Winter running so exhilarating, and summer running to be more of a chore.  I do however, tend to train as you say, longer races during winter and spring, shorter ones during summer and fall.  Does asthma make any difference during the colder weather? Just curious. Regards, Steve

Response:

My dear friends, I suspect you are not asthma sufferers.  My last stretch of running began last Spring and went well, with a few odd asthma problems but all in all I learned allot about my summertime asthma. I managed to conveniently forget about my winter-time asthma, which takes the following form:  The colder it gets, the easier I have to pace myself before ganure (read: shit) starts collecting in my lungs.  Unlike the summertime variety, which responds well to an inhaler, the winter kind does not. I did 10 miles to at 7:40 pace, felt great for most of it, came home, and spent 20 minutes coughing my lungs out, spitting lovely wads of mucus into the kitchen sink.  (Don’t worry, I cleaned it afterwards.) I, too, find winter running very pleasant, but I’ve got to develop a whole new kind of patience to keep some of my new-found form while going slower. I’m just outside of New York City in bucolic Ridgewood, New Jersey. -S- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Steve- What part of the country are you in?… I’m the exact opposite… I hate the summer months… It gets sooo hot… In the winter, you can always put on more clothing, but in the summer, you can only take off but so much … But, I live in Charlotte, NC, so our winter is pretty mild… If you live farther north, I could see where maybe your summers are more tolerable… Here, June, July, and August are all tough months to struggle through… I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

Response:

My dear friends, I suspect you are not asthma sufferers.  My last stretch of running began last Spring and went well, with a few odd asthma problems but all in all I learned allot about my summertime asthma.

Now you’ve got me feeling bad for getting down on you about hating winter running. I managed to conveniently forget about my winter-time asthma, which takes the following form:  The colder it gets, the easier I have to pace myself before ganure (read: shit) starts collecting in my lungs.  Unlike the summertime variety, which responds well to an inhaler, the winter kind does not.

That simply has to su#k!  It is no wonder you dislike cold weather running. The wonder is that you do it at all. I did 10 miles to at 7:40 pace, felt great for most of it, came home, and spent 20 minutes coughing my lungs out, spitting lovely wads of mucus into the kitchen sink.  (Don’t worry, I cleaned it afterwards.)

Maybe a permanent chest drain would help.  Nah, you’d leave nasty tracks on the trail and road. I, too, find winter running very pleasant, but I’ve got to develop a whole new kind of patience to keep some of my new-found form while going slower.

Best of luck, Steve.  I wish I could offer something more than that.  The mere fact that so many people have various physical problems and still continue to run, just for the love of it, is inspiring. Leo

Response:

I love winter running if you can call this winter.  High’s in the 60’s-70’s, lows in the upper 30’s.  The heat of the road doesn’t burn your feet even through your shoes.  Don’t have to carry so much water just to pour on you.  Of course the down side is that from May to September the temperature is usually around 100F.  Summer is survival running, winter is sheer bliss. Have lived in places where it gets dark by 3pm and is cold and wet. Would rather be too hot than too cold. Come and visit south Texas in the winter. Dave "Doing my bit for local tourism" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

Response:

What part of the country are you in?… I’m the exact opposite… I hate the summer months… It gets sooo hot…

    Me too.  I live in Florida, where summer lasts for five months or so, and every day is hot and humid.

Response:

Now you’ve got me feeling bad for getting down on you about hating winter running.

That’s me: lure ‘em in, then sock it to ‘em when they’re least expecting it. I managed to conveniently forget about my winter-time asthma, which takes the following form:  The colder it gets, the easier I have to pace myself before ganure (read: shit) starts collecting in my lungs.  Unlike the summertime variety, which responds well to an inhaler, the winter kind does not. That simply has to su#k!  It is no wonder you dislike cold weather running. The wonder is that you do it at all.

If I take it easy, I’m OK, but I’ve gotten a lot faster over the past Spring/Summer/Fall and taking it easy just isn’t what I enjoy doing anymore. Maybe a permanent chest drain would help.  Nah, you’d leave nasty tracks on the trail and road.

You know, I like that idea.  I’d go for a sinus drain, too, so I could have some nice gnarly tubes hanging out of my face as well.  Kinda the wooly mamouth look. I, too, find winter running very pleasant, but I’ve got to develop a whole new kind of patience to keep some of my new-found form while going slower. Best of luck, Steve.  I wish I could offer something more than that.  The mere fact that so many people have various physical problems and still continue to run, just for the love of it, is inspiring.

Perspiring is more like it, and especially phlegming. (sp?) The tough part is that I want to run a Spring Marathon, so I guess I’m going to have to just put some miles in the bank and add some speedwork as I can when the weather lets up a bit.  Hey, at least I can run, right?  There are lots of folks who can’t do even that. -S-

Response:

… I managed to conveniently forget about my winter-time asthma

Steve, For winter-time running, I find some kind of face mask helps me to breathe easier when I run. It pre-warms the air and keeps it humid. Road Runner Sports used to sell a neoprene mask that went over the mouth and nose. That’s the one I like the best, although the hats with the nose, mouth, and ear mask built in work pretty well, too. During a couple workouts, when I started getting too hot, I was able to tuck the mask into the hat and keep running. I still haven’t figured out how to keep the mask from causing my glasses to fog up. Anyone solve this problem? My best solution so far is to run without my glasses. Cars I can still see – it’s the loose gravel on the road that’s gonna kill me! — Rob I’m running for my life! Rome Marathon to raise money for the ADA Before you buy.

Response:

For me, ditto on your entire post. Although this year I’m going to try to run a little all winter. While I live in Northern Virginia, my heart goes out to the runners in Buffalo today. Could be a long cold one this year. Doug Burke – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

Response:

I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running.

This is some bizarre form of haiku, yes? ; – ) — Josh Steinberg, Syracuse (the snow is flying bigtime today in Central New York; 22 inches in 7 hours so far in Parish, NY, just north of Syracuse; we will get belted tonight and tomorrow; Buffalo’s got nothing on us!)

Response:

For winter-time running, I find some kind of face mask helps me to breathe easier when I run. It pre-warms the air and keeps it humid. Road Runner Sports used to sell a neoprene mask that went over the mouth and nose. That’s the one I like the best, although the hats with the nose, mouth, and ear mask built in work pretty well, too. During a couple workouts, when I started getting too hot, I was able to tuck the mask into the hat and keep running.

Every one of these I’ve tried which, granted, isn’t that many, has felt like it restricted my breathing.  If anyone has one they like, I’d gladly buy it and try it. I still haven’t figured out how to keep the mask from causing my glasses to fog up. Anyone solve this problem?

I agree this is a pain.  When I changed the style of my glasses, to ones that are overall smaller, the problem lessened a little.  When the going gets bad, be it fog or just rain, I put in my contacts before I run. My best solution so far is to run without my glasses. Cars I can still see – it’s the loose gravel on the road that’s gonna kill me!

Yeah, it’s the footing that’s the main issue.  I wear about minus 3.50, enough that I sometimes have trouble untyping the knot on my bathing suit, let alone being able to see all the way to my feet. -S-

Response:

mud ice mud ice mud ice mud ice … Before you buy.

Response:

Have you been checked for exercise induced bronchospasm?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

Response:

To All you Forlorn Winter Runners, Time to appreciate dwindling daylight, and dig out your reflective nylon. (why do they always make it blue or purple? It’s SO butt UGLY) But I digress…. Time to try different routes. Ok…so you kiss speedwork goodbye, for now. (she was too flighty anyways..you’ll see her again in the spring) Time to savor a hot soak in the tub, post-run..or a sauna like shower. Time to relax over a steaming mug.(or your inhaler? Sorry Steve, I couldn’t resist) Time to remind yourself even IF the weather is bad, there’s always another day approaching to run again. It’s raining here. But nothing close to NY snow. Very impressive display by Mum Nature. Teresa

Response:

My dear friends, I suspect you are not asthma sufferers.  My last stretch of running began last Spring and went well, with a few odd asthma problems but all in all I learned allot about my summertime asthma. I managed to conveniently forget about my winter-time asthma, which takes the following form:  The colder it gets, the easier I have to pace myself before ganure (read: shit) starts collecting in my lungs.  Unlike the summertime variety, which responds well to an inhaler, the winter kind does not.

Steve, I, too, suffered through exercised induced asthma during the winter. But I also found out (finally) that most of my asthma symptoms were allergy related. So at age 37 I started 6 years of immunotherapy (read: shots) and lo! and Behold! No more cold weather problems. During the training for the Myrtle Beach Marathon last year, I started a 22 mi. long run at 25 degrees and when I finished, it was 35 degrees. I never thought I’d be able to run in this kind of weather. Don’t know if you’ve pursued this avenue of treatment, but it sure did wonders for me! I’ve been off all medications and inhalers for about 4 years now and don’t regret any of the hassles associated with getting shots in each arm weekly. Hope things work out. –Buzz — Buzz Bonnett              http://www.conterra.com/buzz

Response:

Steve–I appreciate your honesty.  I have to say, however, that I rather like the cold weather.  I’m sick enough to feel that the more inclement the weather, the better I like it (that said, I’m glad I don’t live in Minnesota!)  But it’s funny I can go out for a long run in zero degree weather and feel really toasty, but an hour later feel absolutely frozen walking the 200 feet from my car to my place of work.  It is a bit more of a job to train hard during the winter.  And my Boston training will start in earnest in mid-January…Oh, and I too, am asthmatic, though this hasn’t been a problem generally, luckily. Have fun–and pray for global warming–Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I Hate Winter Running.  I cough more, I can’t just go out there and let ‘er rip because my lungs just can’t take it.  And I feel like I lose my good form when I can’t just go out and let ‘er rip once in a while. I Hate Winter Running.  Time for mileage, time to let go of the speedwork, time to wonder why I’m doing all this. I Hate Winter Running. -S-

Response:

Every one of these I’ve tried which, granted, isn’t that many, has felt like it restricted my breathing.  If anyone has one they like, I’d gladly buy it and try it.

Asthmatics have so much problem getting air in during an asthma attack that almost anything over the mouth will make the patient fear not being able to get enough air. Paramedics see this with oxygen masks all the time. If you sit calmly some place and gradually get yourself used to the mask, you can teach yourself to tolerate it quite well. Just take it easy and keep the training sessions short. Either that or get your coach to stick you on a treadmill and clamp your nose shut and make you breathe through a tube 2 sizes too small until you reach your VO2max. Worked for me. Especially when he’s standing behind you with the defib paddles saying "Keep going or else!" Ah, fond memories of college. — Rob I’m running for my life! Rome Marathon to raise money for the ADA Before you buy.

Response:

No.  Every few years I go see a doctor about all this, but all the cures seem worse than the problems, so I usually don’t go anywhere with it. One guy had me inhaling some sort of steroid.  My sinuses felt great, but the idea of taking a steroid on a regular basis didn’t sit well with me. -S- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have you been checked for exercise induced bronchospasm?

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No.  Every few years I go see a doctor about all this, but all the cures seem worse than the problems, so I usually don’t go anywhere with it. One guy had me inhaling some sort of steroid.  My sinuses felt great, but the idea of taking a steroid on a regular basis didn’t sit well with me.

Steve, I’m not a doc but I m pretty sure that the steriods involved in inhalors are completely different than the type associated with muscle- building/athletic ‘enhancement’, etc. David (in Ontario) — —  :*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.  "Nunc scio quid sit amor." .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.

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I don’t think so.  When I hurt my back three years ago, part of the package of meds I was given through the ER included oral steriods – my sinuses have never felt better, it was absolutely amazing.  Once I got hooked up with a good doctor, he had me stop them, and my sinuses were right back where they started. I think the idea of the kind you inhale, as well as the kind you squirt up your nose, is that the method of dispensing is supposed to minimize the amount that gets into your bloodstream, but it’s all more or less the same stuff, and the idea of taking it regularly just rubs me the wrong way. OTOH, the shot I received in my back was the beginning of my recovery from my herniated discs, and it made a tremendous difference to my back.  But it had a lot of side effects, too – knees hurt, stomach was weird, you name it, for about a week afterwards.  Because of the severity of my condition, the doctor elected to give me a large dose and told me just to live with the side effects because they were temporary, and in retrospect his approached seems like it worked. -S- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No.  Every few years I go see a doctor about all this, but all the cures seem worse than the problems, so I usually don’t go anywhere with it. One guy had me inhaling some sort of steroid.  My sinuses felt great, but the idea of taking a steroid on a regular basis didn’t sit well with me. Steve, I’m not a doc but I m pretty sure that the steriods involved in inhalors are completely different than the type associated with muscle- building/athletic ‘enhancement’, etc. David (in Ontario) — —  :*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.  "Nunc scio quid sit amor." .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.

Response:

No.  Every few years I go see a doctor about all this, but all the cures seem worse than the problems, so I usually don’t go anywhere with it. One guy had me inhaling some sort of steroid.  My sinuses felt great, but the idea of taking a steroid on a regular basis didn’t sit well with me. Steve, I’m not a doc but I m pretty sure that the steriods involved in inhalors are completely different than the type associated with muscle- building/athletic ‘enhancement’, etc.

Correct, sir. Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, Anabolic steroids to grow acne farms on your back, and clear that unsightly hair off the top of your head. Anabolics also lower your voice; if corticosteroids did that, I would be round the doctor’s office long ago to get a prescription for a couple of money notes… I mean asthma. BobMac

Response:

Just to clarify, I think all the steroids given as medicine I’ve had – for my herniated disc, orally for same, and as a nasal spray, are the corti kind.  I have no want/need for the other kind at all.  They’re all still steroids, no? -S- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No.  Every few years I go see a doctor about all this, but all the cures seem worse than the problems, so I usually don’t go anywhere with it. One guy had me inhaling some sort of steroid.  My sinuses felt great, but the idea of taking a steroid on a regular basis didn’t sit well with me. Steve, I’m not a doc but I m pretty sure that the steriods involved in inhalors are completely different than the type associated with muscle- building/athletic ‘enhancement’, etc. Correct, sir. Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, Anabolic steroids to grow acne farms on your back, and clear that unsightly hair off the top of your head. Anabolics also lower your voice; if corticosteroids did that, I would be round the doctor’s office long ago to get a prescription for a couple of money notes… I mean asthma. BobMac

Response:

Just to clarify, I think all the steroids given as medicine I’ve had – for my herniated disc, orally for same, and as a nasal spray, are the corti kind.  I have no want/need for the other kind at all.  They’re all still steroids, no?

They come from the same family, but that is all they share. Lidocaine and cocaine come from the same family, but one is a harmless painkiller and the other is an addictive drug that gets you high…. etc. David (in Ontario) — —  :*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.  "Nunc scio quid sit amor." .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.

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