Just what did I learn yesterday? I learned that racing without my Albuterol inhaler for asthma is a REALLY DUMB thing to do. Just because my inhaled steroid meds work well during easy training runs doesn't mean I shouldn't have that rescue inhaler on-hand during an actual race (on a hilly, partially unpaved nightmare of a course) when I am pushing my body and lungs to the limit. I thought I knew this from earlier race/asthma issues, but perhaps I have been in denial or thought my current maintenance medication (Qvar) was more effective than it actually is, at least during a race. In all fairness, this is the first race I've run since I started this medication, so yesterday served as a learning experience.
Here are my mile splits. My official time of 1:29:48 ended up being 1:15 slower this year than last (my PR for both the distance and the course)...and this year those miles felt SO much more taxing:
Intervals (GPS Interval) | |||||||
Type | Distance | Time | Total Time | Pace | Avg HR | Max HR | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Interval | 1 Mi | 9:02.85 | 9:02.85 | 9:03 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 9:44.74 | 18:47.59 | 9:45 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 9:17.68 | 28:05.27 | 9:18 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 9:16.52 | 37:21.79 | 9:17 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 9:59.22 | 47:21.01 | 10:00 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 10:08.44 | 57:29.45 | 10:09 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 10:26.21 | 1:07:55.66 | 10:27 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 9:35.26 | 1:17:30.92 | 9:36 | |||
Interval | 1 Mi | 9:25.25 | 1:26:56.17 | 9:26 | |||
Interval | 0.37 Mi | 3:12.69 | 1:30:08.86 | 8:41 |
I should have taken a hit off of my inhaler at about the 3 mile marker, as it takes about 20 minutes to kick in fully. That would have at least gotten me through the last half of the race, when I really started to struggle with my air intake. My lungs were also not helped by the people burning leaves or the farmer driving his fume-belching diesel-powered tractor around at road's edge and kicking up dust.
Last year I recall getting a second wind around the 7 mile mark. This year that was just before I really started to consider stopping to walk. By about 7.5 miles my right lung actually started hurting. This was a first. The lung pain was accompanied by coughing and by the end of the race I was starting to gag on the lovely mucus working its way up from my lungs and catching at the back of my throat. In the future I may try taking a dose of Mucinex pre-race to hopefully loosen that gunk up.
Every other time I have run this race I've had a strong kick for the last mile. Yesterday there was no kick. No gas left in the tank. Instead of bombing my way down that last LONG, gradual hill I just trotted-along trying not to get passed by anyone in the last half-mile. Oxygen is kinda important to optimum muscle function, heh.
I finished 7/13 in my age group...pretty similar to last year's 7/11. Average time for women was 1:30:33, so at least I was on the faster side of average. Average time field-wide was 1:22:56.
I spent the rest of the day with a tight cough and achey lungs. I ended up having to hit the Albuterol again to fall asleep.
Today I feel better...not too tired and just a bit stiff and sore. I did a really easy 3.5 mile run to work out the kinks. That felt pretty good. It was almost 60º out there under clear, blue skies. What a gorgeous day. I'm looking forward to getting out for an easy ride on my bike tomorrow, too. I hope the weather will be just as nice as it's been today.
I still plan to run the race again next year. Hopefully with at least 10 fewer pounds stuck to my butt (20 would be ideal...that could potentially buy me a minute/mile pace increase) and for sure with my inhaler in my back pocket. Never again am I going to let something completely avoidable like not being fully prepared get in the way of a great race.
Oh man, sorry you were struggling without your inhaler.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had to use an inhaler since college, but the burning leaves and diesel fumes would have just about done me in too!
I also struggle with asthma and running. I use advair and albuterol. For a race, I'll make sure I'm using the advair consistently for about two or three days. Then just before the race I'll use the albertol. Everyone is different, but I was having a lot trouble last October. During a marathon I was using albertol. I wound up with chest pain. I don't think I'd try to take it again during a race, but that was just my experience.
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