On the Run

One Mile Never Felt So Good

One Mile
Written by Charlie

In spite of all the miles I have covered, this one mile from yesterday felt better than all the others!

If you have never run, you really are missing out! You have probably heard of the term “runner’s high” and it is a real thing. Not only that, but when you run, you can just experience the benefit of the increased blood flow, the joy of covering distance with your own feet, and appreciating either the silence of your surroundings or the communication with friends.

One Mile Never Felt So Good

One Mile

Courtesy of Shutterstock

Asthmatic Runner

As an asthmatic, I was not really able to get into running for many years. In fact, it was not until almost 10 years ago that I was even able to run a mile without having wheezing difficulty. Once I started running, I realized that I had really been missing out. I loved it! Not only that, but I loved competing against myself in marathons. My goal had been to do 1 (9 years and 1 month ago was my first) but that kind of kept going until I am almost at 50 (I can’t remember exactly the number) actual marathon races.

Tough Month

If you are a runner, you know how bad it feels when you cannot run for whatever reason. And that is what happened to me last month. For some reason, this case of walking pneumonia just decided to stick around and around and any type of running really bothered my lungs pretty bad. Trust me, I tried to push it a few times and even covering 2 miles was a real chore and would end with me coughing like I was going to hack out a lung or throw up.

In my running life, I had never been at the point where I was scared to go for a run – scared because I did not know if I would be able to complete it and not sure if I would be able to actually go out again for a while after that. It has not been a fun time (especially with 3 marathons on my calendar already for this year) and one that I have been loathing.

That One Mile!

After just about a month of really not being able to run, I went out yesterday. It was kind of a thing where I sort of needed to go the 4-5 miles anyway so I thought I might as well try to run it (car is in the shop and needed a vehicle so had to get to the airport). Again, I was nervous about even being able to do it but I just went out slowly and tried to see how it would go.

When my GPS watch beeped 1 mile at me, I was ecstatic! For the first time in over a month, I had been able to run 1 mile without stopping! I kept going – and I ran the whole distance of 4.5 miles without stopping, and with a last mile of sub 8 minutes. I seriously have never had a mile feel so good in my life, even miles that capped some goal. I have a little ways to go to dig into my muscle memory and get these legs ready for marathons again (slowly) but I am thrilled that I was able to run again without the breathing problems that have plagued me. And, I did it again today – I am back!!!

Caution!

Let me say, asthma is nothing to mess around with. I had it from the age of 7 and when I was 16, was in the emergency room 10 times with severe attacks. I only started running after I had checked with my doctor and we felt that I had learned to manage it (exercise was/is one of its triggers with me). Since that time, I have kept a close eye on my asthma and when I feel that I need to, I pull up.

I had that happen in a 12 hour race one time in the spring. The pollen was so bad (we were running in a park) that I finally just had to stop because I could not really breathe anymore. It hurt because I had covered 40 miles in 6 hours and felt like I was on track and plan but obviously my health and lungs are more important that time goals.

Again, do not run with your asthma just because some guy on the internet told (me) you he did. Make sure that you are able to do it and stay healthy before you try it for the first time.

So, while I think everyone should give running a try just once (alright, maybe twice because the first time will really work your muscles!), I also encourage you to make sure you are healthy enough to do it. In my case, yesterday was definitely a great feeling mile – and I have run a few of them.

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About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.

10 Comments

  • As a triathlete I know how you feel. Last August I got a bad cold wich then turn into a sinus infection. I spent 2 weeks doing nothing. Very long 2 weeks. Glad you are doing better.

    • Thanks so much! Those sinus infections can really mess is up as well! It seems like you have more time but it ends up feeling like wasted time, right?

  • I’m with you – Asthma can just suck the life out of you – Running in cold weather really does it for me..Us runners are a crazy bunch! I ran the NY Marathon in NOV, didn’t like how I ran so I ran the Disney Marathon in Jan.. Everyone thought I was nuts… I will say running back to back marathons with a bunch of other races immediately after takes its toll…. My legs KILL

    • Cold weather can be rough on me as well, if I have not had time to get used to it. Good for you getting back at it – and in a much warmer climate! 🙂

  • Glad to have you back on the road again. I know how you feel. I hate having to lay off and suffer with illness. I don’t have Asthma as bad as you, only slightly, but that pollen or weather conditions can be really hard.

    • Thanks! It normally isn’t like this which is one of the things that made this much more difficult for me to deal with. Thanks for the well-wishes!

  • Great job! The first mile is the hardest, in my opinion! Looking forward to reading more about your 3 marathons this year!

    • Thanks, Joey! So far, Jerusalem next month (but more just to do it since I am there and have done it a couple of times), Stockholm in June (goal race if I can get my legs back), Iceland in August and going to put Queenstown, NZ on the list in November if I can get one segment to open up award availability. 🙂