First bike race and couldn't breathe

[BlurgirlMU]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone has experienced any strange breathing issues when racing like the below.

Background on me: I'm in above average shape and have done numerous triathlons in the past year and a half marathon a few months ago. I work out (swim/bike/run/volleyball) at least 5 days a week as well as bike to work. Cycling is by far my favorite and I have been riding a bit more seriously for 3 years now. Mostly long social rides or benefit rides, but this March I joined a racing team and have been doing some training and clinics with them as well as am in the middle of an 8 week intense computrainer class with another local program.

I have asthma but it is really only set off by cats and some dogs. I don't have any problems when I am working out.

Last weekend I did my first crit and was nervous at the start line, but still ok. One of my teammates who is also new was telling me about her first race - she said she had an "asthma attack" and was having issues breathing the whole time. She said she is now starting to suspect that it wasn't asthma, it's something to do with the race or the race situation. I found that interesting.

What was more interesting was about one lap in, I was in the same situation. But it wasn't a normal wheezing asthma attack that I was used to, it felt like something was sitting on my chest, or I was having a panic attack as I just couldn't breathe, like my lungs wouldn't take in any more air. But I wasn't really nervous, I felt pretty calm, and was just trying to watch my breathing and keep it steady while trying to keep up with the group.

I go out and put in really hard efforts during training, especially with sprint practices, etc, and I have never experienced something like this. People say it could be exercise induced asthma, but why did it only happen this one time?

Just curious since my teammate seemed to have the same thing, is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this? Is it just nerves and will go away with more racing experience? I was super nervous with my first triathlon and didn't have any breathing issues, so I'm sort of baffled.

Thanks for any thoughts!

[Kiwi Stoker]

How was the weather on the day?

DH has asthma but hasn't had attack in years.

Anyway during a cycle challenge when he was riding through 10 degrees C temperatures (very cold) and not wearing warm clothing he got breathing issues.

So if it was cold that day that could be a reason why.

[rocknrollgirl]

That happens to me in races if I do not warm up enough, and then go out very hard. It takes about 15 mins for my lungs to open up.

I too do high end efforts in training, but I rarely jump on my bike and do them in the first 10 min.

How was your warm up?

[zoom-zoom]

I have asthma but it is really only set off by cats and some dogs. I don't have any problems when I am working out.

You haven't had any problems in the past while exercising/racing, but asthma is sneaky. If you have it from one factor then the likelihood of it presenting itself at other times is definitely there.

I would say what you and your friend have experienced is likely EIA. In the past I only had issues during races and extended speed workouts, like tempo runs. Eventually I started having issues all the time, so I am now on a twice daily inhaled steroid medication and albuterol inhaler as needed. You may want to talk to your doctor about using an inhaler before workouts, preventatively.

Don't mess with asthma. It's a potential killer and can be pretty unpredictable.

[JennK13]

Could have been a panic attack, especially since you say it didn't feel like an asthma attack, and had been talking about it just before it happened. The brain is a funny thing! Being your first race, you very well could have psyched yourself out. You haven't had issues training......I say try to relax, put it out of your mind, and see what happens at the next race.