Runners
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^I'm from Weston-Super-Mare in the UK^
The weather has been sunny and windy with moderate - high pollen levels which can be an issue for me as I do suffer with occasional hay fever as well as exercise induced asthma. However, I did some research and found this useful website: http://www.runningforfitness.org
In this section http://www.runningforfitness.org/book/chapter-8-injuries/infections from the above mentioned website it states; "It is not clear why runners are especially prone to respiratory infections such as sore throats and bronchial infections. It may be to do with the trauma to the throat linings of hard breathing while running. But there also appears to be a lowering of the effectiveness of the immune system generally in runners who are training hard, which contributes to this phenomenon"
So It may be pollen but could also be as a result of the increase in distance I am running. Whatever it is I can't run at the moment and its frustrating the hell out of me
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I haven't noticed it when I increase mileage, but I do notice it with speedwork. An all out mile will have my lungs hurting for days.
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I agree with summer. I have not felt any effects in gradual increments of weekly mileage. The only time I can really feel the effects on my lungs is when I am doing any speed or lactic acid threshold work.
I do not know how the weather has been in your area but some of the apps I found useful is "weather under ground" and "storm". It gives you local reports of weather and pretty accurate cloud coverage on their radar. Plus they cover pollen count there too
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^thanks for your insight and feedback gents, its helpful^
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This is something that plagues even the best runners in the world. Galen Rupp (London Olympics 10K Silver Medalist) has a serious pollen allergy and has scratched from races because the pollen counts were abnormally high on race day. Obviously the more intense the effort the more impact the allergy will have on performance.
In my opinion your chest infection could definitely be caused by the increase in mileage, even if there has been no increase in intensity. If you jumped from 35 miles to 50 miles in one week you basically asked your body to do 40% more work/week than it had been doing for the past number of months or years. If you kept running at a similar intensity at 50 miles/week as what you were doing at 35 miles/week there is a good chance your immune system was weakend for a period of time before adapting to your new 'normal'.
I still train at a fairly high intensity (70-80 MPW with 2 workouts and 1 long run), but it doesn't compare to what I was doing when I was running in college. The more intensity you add the farther out on the razor's edge you go. It's very counter-intuitive, but when you look at an endurance athlete in peak condition you are also most likely looking at them at their weakest immune system wise. I'm almost 29 and easily the worst periods of sickness I have experienced were when I was my most fit (extremely frustrating).
A great example are Tour cyclists. All unbelievably fit during the Tour de France and all as far out on the edge as they can get. They hit elevator buttons with their elbows instead of their hands, partially out of superstition and paranoia, but also because it doesn't take nearly as much for them to get sick during the tour as it would during a base training phase.
My advice would be to run through the sickness at a lower volume (15-20 mpw) and build back up to 50 from 35 mpw over the course of a 3-4 week span (i.e. about a 4 mile increase per week).
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@BloodnThunder, thanks for your insight and experience. Your response resonated deeply with me and my experience of increasing my weekly mpw from 35 to 50. I hadn't considered this mpw increase in terms of what I was asking my body to do; 40% more work/week, which is a huge increase. I know historically I haven't been great at looking after myself and have tended to push myself until I'm done in. Thinking in the way you've illustrated will, I hope, help me to set more realistic targets for myself.
Welcome to the forum buddy
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Thanks, @den1mhead. It's definitely one of the most common runner 'mistakes', which I have definitely been guilty of as well. If you look on the bright side, a chest infection is a much better/more manageable result of an increase in mileage than something like a stress fracture.
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For my next race I'm fundraising. For those in the US it would be a tax deduction. Any amount helps and 100% of the funds go to cancer research. The link is below. The race is a Ragnar Relay that runs about 200 miles through the back roads of Utah. Fun but tough. Map of my 3rd and toughest leg of the race is below. For those familiar with Utah skiing it climbs from Park City and through Deer Valley's resort.
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Respect @summ3rhayes a great cause very close to my heart.
. Also thank you guys for some very practical advice and info [emoji4]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Thanks, @den1mhead. It's definitely one of the most common runner 'mistakes', which I have definitely been guilty of as well. If you look on the bright side, a chest infection is a much better/more manageable result of an increase in mileage than something like a stress fracture.
Done that. It sucks.
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Random thought on my run yesterday….. "I wonder if @Giles would ever do an Iron Heart Army racing singlet?" I would totally race in one. Although something tells me fabric weight/breathability could be an issue.
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Ha! Don't know if I would ever run in some Iron Heart Daisy Dukes.
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Forgot to mention this a few months back when I ran the race. For anyone that is shooting for a Boston Qualifier this is about the fastest course you can find that is Boston eligible. Also happens to be a very beautiful course. Basically start at the top of Snoqualmie pass (about 1.5 hours outside of Seattle) and follow the John Wayne trail down to North Bend. You lose about 75-100 feet per mile in elevation. Feels like you have a nice tailwind the whole way. Wasn't a race I was gearing up or training for as my coach just wanted me to run it as a workout but I'm really glad I got to race and will hopefully compete next year as well.
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Sounds like a fun race. Flashlights and trails. Pretty cool.
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@summ3rhays the tunnel was pretty rad. 8 am Sunday morning start time meant no one else was in the tunnel besides people in the race. There was a pretty heavy fog that had settled and even drifted into the tunnel. I had the fortune, or misfortune, to be the first one in and through the tunnel. My flashlight was just about useless because the fog stopped the light a few feet ahead of me. Basically pointed it straight at the ground and hoped I didn't step in a hole.
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Me and Jules (den1mhead & Black Orchid on the IH forum) are taking part in the Frome Half and 10k which is in 6 days on 17/7/2016. We are running to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Bristol charity. For anyone wanting to donate I list below the web addresses for both mine (Barcley) and Jules' Virgin Money Giving donation pages. Just click on either link below and follow the instructions . . . . .
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Me and Jules (Black Orchid) completed the Frome half marathon and 10km on Sunday 17th July 2016, raising over £1000 for the Rmh Bristol charity. I ran the first 10km (6.2 miles) with Jules which we completed in 1 hour 3 minutes and then I completed the remainder of the half marathon (6.9 miles) in 56 minutes. See before and after shot below . . .
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well done guys @Black Orchid @den1mhead
