I'm a new runner and worried bout how it makes me feel- advice please

Hiya everyone!

I have started running, for the first time, a month ago as it is the cheapest form of exercise I can find (I'm a student!)

I do have asthma but I havent had an attack for a while and don't need daily inhalers as its usually just stress that sets it off and I can control that.

So, during a run I go slowly ( I go with a friend who is a frequent runner so she is my pace setter!). I am OK for a bit but then my chest hurts like crazy and my legs go numb and I hve to walk.

Yesterday was particularly bad and I felt I was about to faint and my head was so hot and pounding.

Is this normal? Is it just because my body isn't used to it?

Mandy

xx

That dosen't sound normal. Starting running is pretty painful admittedly, but I would get checked out by your doctor before you do anymore.

i absolutely second that - it doesn't sound normal, and even if you just feel slightly light headed, you're supposed to stop!!

hmmm.... I can actually see that. It does sound quite dangerous once I've read it back

Do you think it could just be all mental though?

Numb legs is not normal, even for someone that does not exercise often. Go see a doc! As for the lung problem, do you smoke?

That sounds a lot like dehydration - are you getting at least 8 cups of water a day?

I had the same as experience that you are having now when I started running. I have asthma as well, and thought that I did not need any sort of daily maintenance meds. When I started on a daily steroid inhaler, I was able to run about twice as far as when I wasn't on the med. Numbness can be a symptom of hyperventilation. Maybe you should consider checking in with your physician. 

I'd get checked out by the doc too.  However, I wonder if your "pacesetter" is going too fast?  I'm training to jog as well and I have to jog so slow, it feels slower than walking. 

As others mentioned, check with your doc. But if your physician will give you green light, do not go by pace that somebody set for you… Either use heart monitor and stay in zone 2 or at least be sure that you can breathe via your nose and talk easily while running. Completely ignore how fast you are going for now. This is not unusual for people start from mostly working to satisfy this condition… May be you just going too fast.