Ever since I started this blog in October 2006 I have tried to be honest about my running and how things are going. For the vast majority of the last 13 years (and for many years before I started my blog) I have enjoyed my running and it has never been a problem to get out and run.

Some runs have been more enjoyable than others but I can honestly say motivation to run has never been an issue and no matter how I felt I always got out and ran. I basically really enjoy running.

This afternoon I set off to do my 12 mile loop on the Gleniffer Braes. It was meant to be 15 miles but I’d already decided to cut it short which is unusual in itself.

After less than a mile I stopped, turned round and walked home. This is something I have NEVER done before.  I have decided I need to find out what is wrong as something is not right.

For the past few months within minutes of running I have an uncomfortable feeling in the centre of my chest. It is not as sore as to say it is a real pain. Uncomfortable is the best description and it makes me feel very sluggish and I often have to walk until it eases off.

The first time I remember this uncomfortable feeling was when Katrina & I were on holiday in Skye in April. One morning I got up early and went for a run and for the first time I had this uncomfortable feeling in my chest. I had never felt it before and the first thing that went through my mind was something is wrong with my heart.

I walked for a bit and it eased off. I took my pulse and it didn’t seem unusual so I ran a bit more and it seemed okay.

Over the next month I ran the Great Lakeland 3 day event and the 5 day Dragon’s Back. I only remember feeling my chest on day 4 of the Dragon’s Back near the start of the day but it must have eased off as I can’t remember it being a problem.

After the Dragon’s Back I didn’t run for over a week and then for the next 5 weeks I ran easy ever other day. I felt very sluggish for most of these runs but also the uncomfortable feeling in my chest was there for most of them. On some runs I would have to walk 4 or 5 times for a few minutes each time for it to ease off.

It was easy to explain it away by saying I’m still recovering from the Dragon’s Back and while there was some truth to that I now feel that is not the full answer.

I did a longer run two weeks before the Devil o’ the Highlands race. Here is my comment on strava

I had to do a lot of walking on that run and it was hard going. I was concerned enough to go and see my Doctor the Monday before the Devil’s Race. He checked me over and said my heart and lungs all sounded good.  The Doctor said to keep an eye on it and if it didn’t improve to come back.

I ran the Devils race in very hot conditions. I started really cautiously and the uncomfortable feeling was there for the first hour or so and then it eased off and I finished the race fairly strongly.

I had a couple of easy weeks and then four weeks of harder training building up the Ochil 50 mile race. For the 4 weeks I ran 5 times a week totalling from 42 miles to 54 miles a week.

I felt my chest a few times especially early on in a run but it always eased off. I would say though that I wasn’t running as well as I felt I should be. My breathing felt harder for the pace and I was sluggish with no real spring in my step.

I went into the Ochil 50 with some concerns but I decided to take it really steady especially early on and hopefully it would be fine. My optimistic bias to the front!

For the first couple of hours I was aware of the soreness in my chest and I walked a lot more than I would normally but after the first checkpoint after 8 miles it felt fine and I was able to run the rest of the race with no issues at all.

That race was 2 weeks ago and since then I have run 3 times and each time I have had to walk as my chest felt uncomfortable. I’ve got to the point when I’m not looking forward to going out for a run as I know it is going to be uncomfortable.

As I said at the start motivation has never been a problem for me but I can honestly say I’m not enjoying my running at the moment.

I have been assuming my generally feeling sluggish and the pain in my chest are unrelated but I wonder if they are connected.

I’m due to run the Jedburgh 3 peaks in just under two weeks but unless I suddenly feel a lot better I think it makes more sense to withdraw. I want to find out what is causing this.

I have an appointment with my Doctor tomorrow and I’m going to be honest with how I’m feeling and hopefully he will be able to find out what it causing this.

Thanks for reading this. As with most of my blog posts I write primarily as a record for myself but I have always appreciated friends and family support.