I’m a reasonably fit triathlete and runner. Have done multiple Mt. Washingtons, Dipseas, other mountain races.
But sometimes in the mornings, I have a MISERABLE time walking up stairs at work. I need to stop and catch my breath after just a flight or two. Feel like I’ve aged about 30 years.
What’s going on? Is this b/c I have low pulse/blood pressure? Do I need to warm up before I walk into the office?
This is very common…remember, you are lifting your body weight vertically over and over. You are effectively doing uphill lunges…
Yeah, if you haven’t lost any fitness in your workouts (in which case go see a Dr.), it’s just your aerobic engine needing a minute or two to get fired up. I feel the same way sometimes. I have the additional problem of orthostatic hypotension where I can actually pass out if I do too much too quickly after sitting.
Cat 3 racer
FTP of 280
Train at about an 8:30 pace running
Capable of doing 100 repeats on 1:40 with no great effort
Resting heart rate of 50.
58 year old male - Max HR is about 185
Out of breath every time I climb a set of stair all day. Additionally, my heart rate runs in the 100 to 120 range every time I get up from my desk until about 9 am (4 hours after I get up) then it goes to normal (60 to 80).
You are not alone. Not sure why, and my heart rate is in the normal range when I exercise after work.
Our numbers are almost exactly the same!
Except I’m 45. :).
Thank you–very helpful.
This question was asked on the TR podcast some time ago. Seems like this is a common issue. I have the same problem.
This question was asked on the TR podcast some time ago. Seems like this is a common issue. I have the same problem.
Ya, it’s a common thing. They were talking about it on Endurance Planet how you’re a fit triathlete struggling up the stairs while some out of shape coworker zips past you. Happens to me when I’m fatigued from training and not warmed up that day. Had this experience yesterday.
https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...g_up_stairs_P866282/
A quick look on Google will show a wide variety of articles about this. I didn’t bother to read most because I already knew the answer (or at least I think I do).
A fit person who regularly pushes their HR up in fitness routines/training etc gets a reaction when they start something like climbing a stair.
The nervous system says, “here we go, lets rev up the engine a bit”… You get to the top of the stairs (or uphill whatever) and say to yourself WTF.
Put a pair of shorts on and you wouldn’t think twice about it.
So fuggedaboudit.
I’m a reasonably fit triathlete and runner. Have done multiple Mt. Washingtons, Dipseas, other mountain races.
But sometimes in the mornings, I have a MISERABLE time walking up stairs at work. I need to stop and catch my breath after just a flight or two. Feel like I’ve aged about 30 years.
What’s going on? Is this b/c I have low pulse/blood pressure? Do I need to warm up before I walk into the office?
Are you the one that sent in this question to the TrainerRoad podcast? They went into this exact thing in detail. I don’t especially remember the response, though, other than it’s normal for everyone but professional stair climbers, if there were such a thing.
Are you the one that sent in this question to the TrainerRoad podcast? They went into this exact thing in detail. I don’t especially remember the response, though, other than it’s normal for everyone but professional stair climbers, **if there were such a thing. **
You didn’t know?
I live in a 3rd floor walkup. The 2.5-3rd floor gets me every time. Also my girlfriend too. We are both in really good shape, but its naturally tiring.
So that means every time I do a long ride or something, my last part of the workout is to hike 3 floors with my bike. I always think - this is just training to be first instead of something else in a race. It significantly impairs my ability to bring back a lot of groceries. I get a lot of stuff delivered to door from Amazon (thank God).
Yet, if I go on the stairstepper, I can do 100-200 flights of stairs. There is an initial burn when climbing stairs and I think that is just the body raising the HR and the burn comes so quick it is slightly jarring to the mind.
But, instead of thinking ‘omg I’m out of shape’ - maybe think - wow - I’m really getting a good quick workout in right now!
I used to do research in a hospital and the team had this policy of wanting everyone to ‘walk’ the stairs to stay in good shape. The main floor was on 5 and the pharmacy and lab and imaging were on 1. Seems that every time I would walk down with a coworker that he/she would say - lets do the stairs! Many days I had already worked out once in the morning and this other person’s only workouts in the week were the stairs.
I think it is mentally a good exercise/movement and if you focus on your form and maybe get more springy sometimes on the stairs going up, it might help. Also, check your HR just to see how high its getting - could be some interesting data.
Also, if you don’t have anything in your hands except a briefcase or something, the rail can be very strategic.
You’re effectively demonstrating the importance of specificity.
Just because I can hold 350w for 5min on the bike and run a 5k in about 20min doesn’t mean I can race up some stairs right out of the car into work. Nor swim any meaningful distance without drowning or doing a slow backstroke.
I’m a reasonably fit triathlete and runner. Have done multiple Mt. Washingtons, Dipseas, other mountain races.
But sometimes in the mornings, I have a MISERABLE time walking up stairs at work. I need to stop and catch my breath after just a flight or two. Feel like I’ve aged about 30 years.
What’s going on? Is this b/c I have low pulse/blood pressure? Do I need to warm up before I walk into the office?
I’ve raced 15+ ironmans in the pro field. I get winded EVERY damn time I go up the stairs in my house. I wish we had gone for a ranch style one story.
Wow! I feel better now, I thought I was the only one.
Same thing happened to a friend of mine in his mid fifties. He was training for a 70.3 and noticed it took him longer to recover after each long session. Got a check up and had to get a stent in his heart.
https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...g_up_stairs_P866282/
A fit person who regularly pushes their HR up in fitness routines/training etc gets a reaction when they start something like climbing a stair.
The nervous system says, “here we go, lets rev up the engine a bit”… You get to the top of the stairs (or uphill whatever) and say to yourself WTF.
Put a pair of shorts on and you wouldn’t think twice about it.
So fuggedaboudit.
exactly.
Here’s olympic and world champion steeplechaser Emma Coburn,
http://www.garycohenrunning.com//Interviews/CoburnE.aspx
(Funny aside – right here Emma is breathing hard and says, ‘sorry, I’m out of breath. I just walked up a flight of stairs.’ Yes, a flight of stairs is her nemesis!)
I’m a Dr (UK GP).
If you told me it had always been this way, I’d be relaxed.
If you told me it just started a few weeks ago- you would have my full attention.
Simple fix. Just as you reach the bottom of the stairs, use your best race announcer voice to say “Triathletes, due to circumstances beyond our control, the swim has been cancelled!” You’ll get an instant shot of adrenaline followed by a feeling of total euphoria…stairs won’t be a problem. You just needed proper motivation.
I’m a reasonably fit triathlete and runner. Have done multiple Mt. Washingtons, Dipseas, other mountain races.
But sometimes in the mornings, I have a MISERABLE time walking up stairs at work. I need to stop and catch my breath after just a flight or two. Feel like I’ve aged about 30 years.
What’s going on? Is this b/c I have low pulse/blood pressure? Do I need to warm up before I walk into the office?
As everyone else said - it’s not just you. I go from feeling good about myself to panting and wanting to sit down from the 2 flights up to my office in the morning.