Hi All,
I gave up smoking towards the end of November after a healthy ten year relationship with them!! Also started running about 10-15miles a week ever since.
I walk 3.5 miles every day to and from work. Therefore 7 miles in approx 90 mins. Not quick but not a leisurely stroll either. I have done this 5 days a week since April.
I really enjoy running and find that I feel great afterwards but my lungs are by no way at the same level as my muscles. I can run for about 10 minutes a go before my lungs feel like they are on fire. My muscles on the other hand could easily keep going.
Has anyone experienced this in the past and is there anything I can do about it? It is frustrating as I feel that I being hindered from progressing by this.
Cheers
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I've smoked for nearly 14 years and have recently given up. At the moment I run 2.5 miles 3x a week and 1 run of 40 minutes. I never have had the problem that you describe and I've given up only a few weeks ago. I'd suggest to go see a doctor and have a lung test done. Hope it works out OK.
If you're struggling for breath and your chest feels heavy you may have exercise related asthma. Get your peak flo measured at the doctor's. I am asthmatic and with my inhalers don't have any trouble with breathing. Now running is another matter.
PS I'm also an ex smoker.
Looks like better go and get checked out. Thanks for the advice.
Fingers crossed I'll find that it is nothing serious. Bit daunting.
Cheers again.
As a GP and an ex-smoker (all of 3 weeks so far - the smoking, not the doctoring...), I agree with everyone above. Although most ex-smokers find their lung function takes a long time to return to normal (around 6 months on average), the usual complaint is "quitters cough", which isn't really what you're describing. But there's no denying that fags interfere with the normal mucus production in the airways, so when you stop, there's a bit of "catch-up" mucus production.
Do you get breathless at any other times? What about the walking? Night time? Early morning? Do you have a cough? Because without any of these, I'd be fairly reluctant to label someone as having asthma, and, in all honesty, would also be fairly reluctant to investigate further.
If it's just on running, I'd say keep going - you'll find the lung function will improve with time (as I said, about 6 months on average). And in answer to Slo'Boy, not everyone is as lucky as you... as for me - it's my first post-quit run this evening, so fingers crossed...
I've been a light/social smoker for nearly twenty years and I've found there is an almost direct corrolation between exercise and the amount I crave. However, after periods of inactivity (usually job-related) it does take me time to get the fitness back. I'm going through the struggle at the moment aswell, but doing ok, I've also joined a local gym and starting to do a lot of cross-training.
The secret is, is to keep active, the walking is good stuff, but your lungs do need a work out. I've been seriously fit at times (used to do cycle racing and have run a half marathon) and I've suffered the same fire-like feeling as you. I don't know if it's a dangerous condition but it's doesn't seem to have done me any harm yet.
Good luck!
I gave up in October and have found that running has really given me the motivation to keep off the cigarettes. Knowing that all the hard work I've put in training could be undone by starting smoking again just stops me when I'm having a weaker moment(normally in the pub!)
So have fun on your first post-quit run. And even if it hurts think how much easier its going to get over the next few weeks.
Mandy
I can safely say that when i walk I am fine. I do not even think my hart rate increases an extraordinary amount.
I have a walked a lot since April. I have not really noticed a cough as such but I do notice that when I am lying down trying to sleep I do get a ticklish cough developing which can disrupt my sleep.
I will push on for awhile but if teh problem persists I might chaeck in with a Dr.
Best of luck with your run tonight by the way. If the ice has cleaed from the walkways I will be running around too.
Cheers
I f*rted about with running for a few months last autumn and recognise well that burning breathlessness thing
Been runninng more committed for 3 weeks now, been off the fags for 8 days now(after 20 years), and I don't know whether its psychological or not but apart from the first few minutes warming up my breathing's tonnes better - did 13 miles other night and felt my lungs and heart could have gone on foreever - (unfortunately was starting to get a bit of chaffing, blistering, and sore knees)
So stick with it folks!
Think of the lungs as just another muscle. You're exercising it by running far more than you ever have before, so it's bound to complain at first. Happened to me too. Just stick with the running and your lung's ability to cope with the extra demands will slowly improve. Good luck.
I'll push it. Hopefully my mungs will eventually catch up with my legs.
and Dr. Brainz you have a good point, it does seem to be worse when it gets colder.
Should be interesting tonight!
Lari, Well done!!! I gave up 11 years ago from a 35 aday habit and have never looked back. Wish I'd had the sense to start running then as i'd never have gained the 3.5 stone I had to work vv hard to shift.
lol and well done to all quitters!
One thing I have noticed though is an almost permanent feeling of having just breathed in cold air. Bizarre and, I suspect, nothing to do with smoking.
P.S I was given one piece of advice when I quit, "You only have to say no to the first one"
And I had no urge to light up at all - even when my training partner lit up as we walked the last hundred yards home...
I managed to push a bit harder last night managing a 15 minute run before my lungs demanded more attention. Think I will try to keep it at 15 minute intervals for a while and then push for 20.
But My god was it cold!!!
I run about 10 miles a week and am running the Great South on 12th October, this will be my 4th, also undertaken 2 local half marathons, also several other 10 milers, 10k's and 5 milers. My chest does feel hot sometimes, generally at the beginning of a run, but settles after a couple of miles. I usually feel quite good after running or swimming or any gym work. Good luck all of you with ceasing smoking, it's very difficult!
I have just given up smoking 20 a day for the last 26 years.
I am 40 next year and hope to do the FLM for the first time.
Have run for a running club for 4 years buit kept getting injured or felt unwell.
2 steps forward one step back was how it was going for me.
I still have bronchitis, this last viral infection that is going around and so have been unable to run for over a week.
The cough seems to be lasting along time, but this is just my lungs clearing themselves out.
A tip that works for me if I get a craving:-
I have an old tin in my utility room with a half smoked fag in it........it stinks.
I just sniff the tin and my craving disappears.
Good luck to you all
Ex-smoker
Can anyone give me advise.Do I have enough time as a complete beginner(well its been 3 years since I did any running!)to train for FLM in April? If so whose training programme would you recommend? I have 5 months!!
These usually start end of Dec for 16 weeks up to April.
You can find the schedules on this site under training FLM.
YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME!
Good Luck!
Sassie replied with a reference to late onset allergic asthma. Prophetic.
Now about to have allergy tests to identify some of the causes of the asthma which has two compnents - allergy and exercise.
Still not smoking though :-)
"Just say no to the first one"
Julie, you have time - all you have to do is start now. Good luck