Being an Athlete with Asthma

Since qualifying for China, I check the weather there often,  A few days ago the forecast was 'chilly and smoke'.  That's right, "SMOKE"!  I knew from the Beijing Olympics that air quality can be a real problem there, but will be especially challenging for me as an athlete with asthma.  I never had asthma as a kid, it started in my early twenties after moving to LA from the pristine mountain air of the Adirondack Mountains in NY.    It has been a challenge - with the occasional attacks during races.  Now if I feel asthmatic I carry my inhaler with me on the run (see pic below). 

  Some the best runners on my college team at the University of Louisiana had asthma, like Kelly and Dodi, and they were/are amazing runners.  I'm tired of people using the excuse that they can't run or exercise because they have asthma.  I do it everyday.  You can too.

Star athletes with asthma:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306639,00.html

Heart and Soles, 5k PR tie

Teaming with fellow tri-ecoach athlete Eddie F. we ran the Atlanta Track Club's Heart and Soles 5k.   This was my first race since November and it was great to get the legs moving again in a season warm up race!  The strength of my training plan really shows, as today I tied my all-time personal best for a 5k run on the road - 18:45 (6:00/mile).  This was good enough for a 5th place finish overall, 2nd place finish age-group, and we won the team competition in our age group.  Now...  If only I can do that after swimming 750yds, and cycling 20k...