Yup. I went to the doctor and all I got was this lousy inhaler.
I explained that my cough and snot rockets weren’t really improving much over the last few weeks and that normally, I’d give it more time and let this viral whatever take its course. But I had a half-marathon that I was training for and it’s made it difficult to breathe after 3 miles. So I was concerned.
The conversation basically went like this.
Doc: Well it could be that running outside in the cold is irritating your lungs.
Caroline: It’s only been 60 degrees for 2 days.
Doc: Yes, well running and the sudden temperature change can all contribute.
Caroline: I’m originally from Michigan.
Doc: Okay, so running in general.
All my vitals came back great. My blood pressure is pretty stellar, I call that a win for being a copywriter. Plus, more importantly, my lungs sounded very good and clear, basically negating any chest x-ray. She said that what’s been going around is pretty nasty and I’m doing pretty well with letting it work its way out.
If I could take time off from running, do it or walk instead of run. She told me to use this inhaler prior to my runs and see if that helps open the airways more. If not, I just need to let nature take its course with this one and continue to be that girl hacking up her left lung.
I looked at my RunKeeper app last night to compare times from early December to this month. I have slowed down a bit, but not as much as I had thought and surely not enough that I should be too hard on myself about. That’s the thing about not breathing as well as your normally do during a run—you think you’re doing worse than you actually are.
I haven’t used the inhaler yet because I took tonight off from my conditioning run. I’ll be sure to be totally obnoxious when I do use it though.
The hubster says that it’s unfair I get an inhaler because it’s a performance enhancing drug. I said I’d take a hit of it and see him at the finish line.
 – kristin on 
