8 x 600 intervals

I ran intervals tonight.  8 x 600 at just a little slower than mile pace with a 200 recovery jog.  It was chilly and windy.  Temps were around 50 degrees.  The wind was blowing in the direction of the straights, so it was nice gliding on one side and pushing into the cold air on the other.

I wasn't feeling good during the first half of the workout and then I took a pee break.  What a difference that made.  I felt free to just run the second half of intervals without really concentrating on my times.

I was notified last night that I should be receiving a pair of VitalSox compression socks very soon.  I can't wait.  I plan on trying them as recovery socks to see if that helps my calves since they are usually hurting after workouts.  I figure I'll do that for a couple weeks.  Then, I will try wearing them as workout socks and see what that does.

Coldy, Rainy, Windy... and Crampy

I didn't feel like running today.  All day, I've been a little stiff from yesterday's workout (5.3 miles - 2x12min, 3.3x9min).  That wasn't going to stop me.  Nor was the cold temperatures moving back in, nor was 30 mph wind gusts, nor was rain... but the cramp in my left side kept me from doing more mileage than I anticipated.

I having been doing well with longer warmups and today I veered off course.  I got about half a mile into my run and with the rainy conditions, I just wanted to get this over and done.  I wasn't flying, but I went for about a 10 minute pace and I almost immediately started cramping in my lower left quadrant (abdomen).  I'm not sure why, nor do I care at this point.  I just wanted the damn thing to go away.  No such luck.

I finished up my Lake Ivanhoe loop (2.5 miles) and the cramp went away less than a minute later.  I'm also in my warm and dry home and that's a lot better, too!

Running Induced Asthma?

I have this happen to me frequently this time of year. I start feeling a shortness of breath even when my heart and the rest of my body aren't being taxed that much.

It doesn't take very long into my run to start feeling it either. Maybe 5 minutes or so. It makes me have to stop and walk and it's really annoying, because it throws off any pace that I had.

I can't tell if it has something to do with temperatures or allergens.

I know I have problems with Oak in late spring and early summer, but that usually makes my nose run and my eyes itchy. It doesn't affect my breathing.

If that was the case, I could take a pill a couple hours before running and just make sure that I drink more water. I can deal with that.

The symptoms seem to go away by the time my blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature are back to normal, which usually takes about 15-20 minutes after my runs.

Also, when it's real cold out (anything under 40 degrees), I may not get this feeling until after I am done running and I go indoors where heat is being used.

Does anyone up north or someone in Florida during this time of year experience a mild case of asthma during their runs? If so, is there anything I can do to prevent it or is there a quicker way to recover?

Thanks.