I can't believe what i'm about to say...

When i was younger, i had chronic asthma, tonsilitis and hayfever.

I got my tonsils removed when i was about 8 y/o. But the asthma remained pretty bad and the hayfever...*ugh*...wasn't about to leave me be (i suffer 12 months of it). I was a regular in the local hospital for my asthma, like once a month i would be in there. The nurses were always nice to me...they new my name and my medical history. When i felt better whilst staying in the hospital, i would be allowed to sit with the nurses at the reception desk...isnt that weird??? hehehe...For one year i was away from school about half of the year.

Ironically, i received the best results in my reports that year...who understands how that works?

So, basically...due to my asthma, i have been afraid of any form of cardio/aerobic exercise, especially running. Anything that would get my lungs working overtime or get my heart rate racing, i'd be scared of it before even attempting it.

Thankfully, as i got older like in high school, i played team sports that didn't work me so hard and with the help of my ventolin inhaler...i think i learnt to live with it. When i finished high school i started going to the local leisure centre, because i wanted to do aqua aerobics since the doctor suggested that it would help me...and so i did.

Then Cleo or Cosmo had a promotion for 2 weeks free membership at the gym...and since my local gym was part of the promotion...i thought, "what the heck, lets just do it!!!"

It took me a good 2 years of going to the gym regularly doing anything and everything but run on the treadmill. Its been about 3.5 years and i now can say that i run on the treadmill at a sufficient pace. And although i do get tired, im nowhere near an asthma attack! *woohoo*

Surprisingly...its funny, im like this weird anomoly at the gym. All of my trainers including my recent one are all baffled with me and the results i produce.

My current trainer, he doesnt understand why i am unable to get the results that i want, because he watches me do my stuff whilst he walks around the gym checking that everything is running smoothly...and im literally working my butt off! My current heart rate at rest is like 49 beats per minute. Apparently, that is the definition of healthy and fit...and a marathon runner(?), i thought he was joking with me when he told me that! And since my heart rate is of a fit person...i need to get it up to about 175 beats per minute to gain any results from a cardio/aerobic workout. Apparently, the best way to get the heart rate up that high and keep it there for a while is by running.

So, here it is...and i really can't believe it is coming from my mouth...but i actually like running! All these years of being scared of running and avoiding it...all those times i said that i was asthmatic and therefore i shouldnt run in fear that it would trigger an attack...its all over now. I dont think i have asthma anymore. I dont use the inhaler, i havent for about 3 years, maybe even longer...i havent felt that tight squeeze on the chest for a very long time, actually i cant seem to remember how it felt.

The funny thing is that i enjoy running (still in awe about saying that)...or maybe i enjoy the sense of overcoming a physically overwhelming obstacle?

*What did you think i was going to say next?*