My daughter is normally a sprinter in Track, 100m/200m/400m and occasional 800m… she especially loves the 400m.
She used to also run cross country in the Fall, but she found that she didn’t finish that well, had problems with exhaustion, chest compression towards the end of the races. We just assumed she was more of a short distance runner, and she only turned out for Track the past 2 years.
This past Track season, my daughter was disappointed that her performance was lacking. She also noticed more that when sprinting any distance, that when she nears 100m and beyond, she could feel her chest compress, less able to get air, and becoming exhausted even though her muscles felt fine.
She started the 9th grade in High School this year. Late May of last Spring, some of the girls from the High School talked my daughter into joining cross country, and training started in early June.
About mid-summer, the cross country coach (who is also the Track coach) asked Keana to have blood work done to check for low iron or low ferrin.
Her blood tested, and after talking with her and doing a couple simple tests, the doctor told her he thought she had Exercise Induced Asthma" and prescribed her an Albuteral inhaler.
It was also found that she had low ferrin count, low red blood cell count, and low hemoglobin, so she has been taking Proferrin to help with this, and after about a month, she has noticed a big difference in endurance.
The first time she used the inhaler, she was very happy. She said she could feel her lungs expand and her chest didn’t compress while running.
This has not been a cure though. She has had a couple of episodes of her chest compressing causing early exhaustion and slowing her running. She finishes her races, but she is totally spent and hyperventilates while trying to catch her breath.
She only sees this problem as occasional and only serious in the fact that it effects her performance. She loves running more than anything, and couldn’t imagine not being able to push herself or do what it takes to win. Each race she runs she pushes herself to the limit.
Of course, I see it differently and worry as it could be a health risk.
The cross country team won state last year (both the boys team and girls team, boys are #22 in nation now) and are rated the same this year in the coaches poll.
My daughter has worked so hard and has made the girls varsity squad.
I am waiting to hear back from a “Asthma and Allergy” clinic, where they will do tests and hopefully help her.
Anyones experiences with this, knowledge or sources would be greatly appreciated.
Rick