****Running Outside???*****

[ciaobella]

I am having the hardest time running outdoors! I have been trying to get my self used to running outside to get my cardio A)because it is one of the best forms of exercise and B)b/c i am going to be gym-less this summer but everytime i run i can only last for about 10-15 min or basically the equivalnt of 1.5-2 miles, i am not tired or sweaty but i have to stop because my chest contracts, my bronciolt tube stings, i taste blood in my mouth and i start to get a really bad almost whooping-type cough...basically it becomes to painful to breath.....

I don't understand I can run for 45 min on the treadmill, i can do 60 min of high intesity cardio on the ellptical tranier, and bike...what gives why is it sooo hard for me to run outside....?????? this has always been a problem for me (winter summer spring fall) and even when i was in good shape and working out everyday (as part of a sports team) i couldn't run outside for long.....how can i fix this??!?!?!?!?!?

thanks

[Isabeau]

I can only speak for myself, but I'm asthmatic and allergic to almost every tree and grass out there. I also have weather induced asthma. Certainly my weight loss to date and current activity level has made my asthma waaaaay better, but I'm still effected by the environment. So, if you have any kind of lung disease, it may be a factor. The only other thing I can think of is terrain related. I mean, unless you're simulating hill training on your treadmill, any change in grade outside might just affect you. Either way, your symptoms don't sound good and you might want to check it out with your doc.

[sadie147]

My transition from running on a treadmill to running outside was the biggest shock of my life! I barely made it 5 mins before i was exhausted and I could run on a tread mill for 40 mins. Isabeau is right, It is a very good idea to set the incline on your treadmill to help you transition. I find 2% or 3% incline feels like outside.

How I managed transistion my way up to the 30 or 40 mins i could run on a treadmill was by

-training on a high school track, I found this to be easier since it was a fairly level surface, and I could measure my distance fairly accurately since it's a 1/4 mile track.

-slowing down, I find I can't run nearly as fast outside as i can on a tread mill..even now. I think that a treadmill propelling you makes you run faster.

- do a walk\run routine and work your way up just like you would if you were just starting out. There is no harm in walking during a run if it helps you run a bit farther and avoid an injury ( I do it all the time during my runs rather than stop altogether).

-don't push yourself...don't worry you'll get there..it took me nearly as long to learn to run outside 5k as it did on a tread mill. There's no point hurting yourself.

Hope some of these tips help.

[Richt]

I agree it is much harder running outside than it is on a treadmill.

Personally I put that down to the fact that when we run on the treadmill all we really have to do is basically run on the spot as the "road" moves for us. But when running outside we have to make the momentum ourselves to move forward.

Just my opinion really.

Rich

[ttdriver]

I concur; definitely more challenging to run outdoors, especially where I live here in the sauna belt.

Yesterday's run was extremely difficult .. I ran in 84% humidity and a wind of 30 mph in my face.... I am not a novice runner and yet I struggled to finish 8 miles. Running outdoors has so many more variables; temperature, humidity, wind, contours, grade, surface ... all of which can contribute to a very strenuous workout.

Build up to it slowly. Do what you can, but don't push it. Its extremely important to listen to your body!!

All that said, I wouldn't trade running outside for anything!!!

Betty

[iyamamaschke]

Sounds to me like you ahve exercise induced asthma I have the same and I can't run outside unless I am medicated or I end up sick. Go to your doc and discuss this with him cause you shouldn't be having a burning chest and coughing spells this sounds liek what I get and it may well be asthma. Take care of yourslef and be sure to get meds if you so need to.

Sarah

[ciaobella]

thats what my mom said (she's a doctor just not mine) but i would think that if i had asthma i would have the same problems when i am running in the gym....also i run harder when i am at the gym like 8 min for a mile as opposed to the 10 min outside and still i get such pain!!!!! i run outside on a track and on a slight incline at the gym... eeee i don't understand....do u think it's polution??? b/c it kinda reminds me of the feeling i would get when i was a kid in LA and had a hard time breathing after a lot of playing outside b/c of the smog....???? DC just got a "F" for air quality so maybe...??? urplequ:

[2big4mysize]

when you are indoors youhave a climate controlled enviornment too humidity effects the transfer of oxygen in the lungs. your airway passages could be irritated by airborne pollutants pollen ect which will trigger your asthma too.

if you are happy working out inside why workout on the track?

[ciaobella]

if you are happy working out inside why workout on the track?

i am moving to a house on cape cod this summer to work and save money for rome so i won't have access to gym and i wanted to start buliding my ablilty to get a good cardio sin the gym now so that i can keep up with my exercise this summer

[2big4mysize]

so build your cardio indoors now and when you have to give up your indoor running on the cape the enviornmental conditions will be diferent for your outdoor running.

Have you seen what outdoor walking the same amount of miles does to you?