Chest burning after running?

sugarlips1980
sugarlips1980 Posts: 361 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone else suffer this and knows what causes it? I'm not a regular runner but do a fitness dvd and hour walk every day. Do a gym sesh or go for a swim once a week for a change. I'm 5 stone (70Ibs for the Americans) overweight, lost 13 pounds so far. Started MFP about 6 weeks ago but had started exercising over the summer with bootcamp 3x a week. So I'm quite overweight but not totally unfit. I've signed up for a 5k in December so started very short runs this week. Just went for a 5 min/1k nonstop run round block and my chest was burning like mad and I was coughing, same a few nights ago. I've ran a 10k twice two and three years ago without that much actual running training and didn't suffer this but I was about 30 pounds lighter! I don't have asthma as far as I know, I'm 32 and I don't get this burning with any other exercise. I have mild relapse remitting MS but wouldn't think that's got anything to do with it. I quit smoking 3 months ago. I can do a run on the treadmill for 15 or 20 mins nonstop without any burning. Why am I so pathetic on the road?! Sorry long post but it kind of freaks me out, my boyfriend's saying I must have exercise-induced asthma, or is it just because I'm that much more overweight now?

Replies

  • sugarlips1980
    sugarlips1980 Posts: 361 Member
    Bump!
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    It sounds like you were just going too fast - based on a 5min km you'd run a 5K in 25 minutes and in your own words you're not a "regular runner".

    Slow down and focus on endurance first, if you haven't been running much since your 10K , gained 30lbs and just quit smoking (bravo - a very wise decision!) you're pretty much at square one as far as running fitness goes. I haven't used the program myself but lots of people here seem to like the c25k (couch to 5 k ) programs.
  • kentmac
    kentmac Posts: 101 Member
    Is it cold out? Cold air makes my lungs burn like the ****ens when running, even at pretty moderate speeds, if I'm not used to it.

    I doubt it's asthma. Asthma feels like a squeezing in your chest and throat that leads to inspiratory wheezing, so unless you're experiencing that, I doubt you should worry about getting an inhaler or anything.

    For now, see if going a bit slower is more comfortable outdoors, then try ramping up the speed.
  • almapig1
    almapig1 Posts: 14
    I have had the same chest burning you have experienced after running. However I also have sports induced asthma which rarely bothers me. I figureskate three times a week fairly intensely and my asthma doesnt bother me on the ice. So when I started running (only a week and a half ago because I too am doing a 5k at the end of November) I thought I was going to die with the chest burning and coughing. However, I went for a mile run the other day and I used my inhaler before hand (which I use about once a year) and I did not have the chest burning or coughing once I got done. When I ran this morning I forgot to use it before I left the house and the burning and coughing came back. I would go see a doctor and get a rescue inhaler. Your boyfirend could be right and it is due to asthma. The inhaler definitely helped me and I'll be sure not to forget it in the future. Hope this helps :)
  • sugarlips1980
    sugarlips1980 Posts: 361 Member
    Thanks for the replies. It has gone a bit cold here this week (north of England!). To be more accurate round the block is 0.66 k! I guess running is a different kettle of fish and demands more fitness than what I've been doing. I've got just under 2 months till 5k, sure I will improve if I try, slowly! Im hoping to be 14 pounds lighter by then which I'm sure can only help! Yeah I was trying coach to 5k and really liked how it eases you in with intermittent running and walking but then I lost my iPhone! Might try my own version!

Categories