We are at the height of allergy season here in Florida, and running through spring allergies is really an endurance sport. In addition to the rising temperatures and humidity, we are often on the lookout for the air quality readings before heading out. A high allergy day make running (and existing) absolutely miserable. How do we cope?
Stock Up On Remedies
Don’t head into allergy season unarmed. Stock up on the medications and remedies that you find work best for you. Personally, I find that the effectiveness of my tried and true treatments changes depending on the type of allergen I’m exposed to. It’s always an adventure. I do find decent success with more natural things like local honey and fresh ginger, but I also have no problem taking a Zyrtec to get relief.
Keep Your Running Inside
The easiest answer is sometimes the right one. Instead of running outside with all the pollen and environmental factors, get yourself to the gym and hope on the treadmill. It’s an elegant simple answer to any annoying problem. If you’re lucky, your treadmill has a great view of the outdoors.
Time Your Run Appropriately
This may sound strange, but my allergies tend to bother me more in the evening than in the morning. There is definitely something that blooms at night that does not agree with me, so my goal is to ensure my miles are completed in the morning.
Location, Location, Location
If the pollen is bad in your area and you still want to be outside, head somewhere else. For us, the beach is a great way to get away from most allergens. That salt air is so restorative and the perfect way to get some relief from the itchy eyes and runny noses of the spring season.
What are your tried and true ways for combatting your spring allergies while running?
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Oh, I feel you. Kai is very allergic to pollen and really suffered in Zurich, where spring is further along than here in Boston. Since we got here, he’s feeling better.
You are right, a change of location can be the best solution!
I never thought that Zurich would have been so bad! I’m sorry he’s struggling, but glad Boston was good for him!
Allergies are miserable! I had terrible seasonal allergies every spring and summer, and they were getting unbearable with each year. My tried and true solution was five years of allergy shots. It seemed like a huge commitment in the beginning, but it was SO worth it. I still have an occasional stuffy nose, but that’s only on extremely high pollen-count days and is minimal in comparison to what I endured before the course of shots.
I never think of shots for environmental allergies. I think of it more for pet allergies or similar. Glad you found something that worked!
Medicate, medicate, medicate. My allergies have got much worse since my second bout of Covid, and are year-round now, so in the summer I have to go for prescription eye drops. I’m worse in the early morning and early evening but I just dose up and go and hope for the best. My running glasses are reactolite coated, which helps. Hope your allergy season is over soon!
Oh, interesting about your glasses! I love that that helps!
I don’t have allergies, but I know people who do. And no one is perfect, and I also have other medical issues. At one point, I thought I was allergic to “something” because I sneezed often in the morning, but I never figured out what it was or if that was the case.
There’s a special sneeze… it comes with itchy eyes and it just rises from the depths of your soul. You would know for sure!