Lots of phlem

AntiVirus

Has anyone got any tips on reducing the amount of phlem you get in your mouth when running?

I find that when I'm doing a fast 5km run (fast for me) I get lots of phlem in my mouth which makes it hard to breath properly as I have to try to clear my mouth more often. This only happens when I try to run fast. Any tips??

EDIT: It's not phlem but thick saliva

domall

From your description I think I know exactly what you are talking about but I'm not sure if I can help or explain it.

From my own personal experience, that used to happen to me if I started back into running (or any activity) after being out of action for a while and having lost some conditioning. I would get a build up of saliva / mucous in my mouth that would lead to me spitting a lot more than usual. I found that after being back into activity then for a while that it just abated and went back to 'normal'.

I'm a mild asthmatic, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it. My asthma is very much under control & under normal circumstances I would not use inhalers before or after running (however if it was a case that I was just getting back into it after a while off I might take a puff or 2 of salamol / ventolin before going out running).

Dunno if that's any help, but its my two cents!

christeb

I think I get the same. Doesn't both me as much though. One of my clubmates recommended exputex, maybe you could give that a go.

Mods - I don't think it qualifies as medical advice if it's OTC stuff we're talking about? I like to push those boundaries :rolleyes:

mloc123

Hock it out, since I have started running spitting in public seems much more acceptable to me now..

Condo131

AntiVirus wrote: »

This only happens when I try to run fast. Any tips??

....Run slowly??? :rolleyes:

....or just spit!

AntiVirus

Condo131 wrote: »

....Run slowly??? :rolleyes:

....or just spit!

I'm trying to get my 5km time under 19mins so I need to run faster than I am to achieve this.

AntiVirus

domall wrote: »

From your description I think I know exactly what you are talking about but I'm not sure if I can help or explain it.

From my own personal experience, that used to happen to me if I started back into running (or any activity) after being out of action for a while and having lost some conditioning. I would get a build up of saliva / mucous in my mouth that would lead to me spitting a lot more than usual. I found that after being back into activity then for a while that it just abated and went back to 'normal'.

I'm a mild asthmatic, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it. My asthma is very much under control & under normal circumstances I would not use inhalers before or after running (however if it was a case that I was just getting back into it after a while off I might take a puff or 2 of salamol / ventolin before going out running).

Dunno if that's any help, but its my two cents!

I think you may be no to something here. I haven't been out running much over christmas but just went to the gym instead. I didn't use the treadmill at all while I was there, I just used the C2 rowers. I don't remember having this problem as bad before christmas when I was out running 4 times a week.

Maybe it will get better over the next couple of weeks, maybe its the weather as well?

AntiVirus

christeb wrote: »

I think I get the same. Doesn't both me as much though. One of my clubmates recommended exputex, maybe you could give that a go.

Mods - I don't think it qualifies as medical advice if it's OTC stuff we're talking about? I like to push those boundaries :rolleyes:

I shouldn't have put phlem in the title its more of a thick saliva covering the inside of my mouth. So I don't think exputex would be the solution.

Magnet

I spit all the time when I`m racing, at the beginning I used to apologise but now I don`t bother!
Never happens running slowly so my thoery is spitting is easier while breathing heavier, certainly beats choking...

AntiVirus

Magnet wrote: »

I spit all the time when I`m racing, at the beginning I used to apologise but now I don`t bother!
Never happens running slowly so my thoery is spitting is easier while breathing heavier, certainly beats choking...

Mine seems really thick so its a bit of work trying to clear the mouth.

After doing some research I think I maybe a bit dehydrated when running in the morning. So I'm going to try drinking more at night and then when I get up in the morning, just to see if this helps.

As for the spitting I wait till there's no one around

Thanks

Magnet

AntiVirus wrote: »

Mine seems really thick so its a bit of work trying to clear the mouth.

After doing some research I think I maybe a bit dehydrated when running in the morning. So I'm going to try drinking more at night and then when I get up in the morning, just to see if this helps.

As for the spitting I wait till there's no one around

Thanks

Then you`ll be up all night peeing.....

AntiVirus

Magnet wrote: »

Then you`ll be up all night peeing.....

I didn't think of that! :pac:

domall

Thankfully I've been continually fit now for a while, even the x-mas break & iundulging didn't seem to take too much out of me so it hasn't happened to me for a while, but I think you're right, it could be worse in the cold weather.

Deffo sounds like the same thing I've experience before, but as I said, for me it just improved over time. There could be something in the dehydration theroy as well though. Good luck with it!

1st event of the NY for me on Sunday, Tuam 8km, only been out training twice in 2011 so far, but I'm looking forward to it!

hardCopy

mloc123 wrote: »

Hock it out, since I have started running spitting in public seems much more acceptable to me now..

Same here, I just hate trying to snot-rocket while cycling

AntiVirus

domall wrote: »

Thankfully I've been continually fit now for a while, even the x-mas break & iundulging didn't seem to take too much out of me so it hasn't happened to me for a while, but I think you're right, it could be worse in the cold weather.

Deffo sounds like the same thing I've experience before, but as I said, for me it just improved over time. There could be something in the dehydration theroy as well though. Good luck with it!

1st event of the NY for me on Sunday, Tuam 8km, only been out training twice in 2011 so far, but I'm looking forward to it!

I'll be out again tomorrow around lunch time so I'll drink plenty of water during the morning.

Good Luck on Sunday!

alitoast

I was about to post a similar problem i have, except my phlegm issue is the day after i run.

I find the morning after at work i get a very annoying phlegm build up in my throat which means i am constantly coughing and clearing my throat before speaking (very annoying at meetings where i cant speak without a prequisite cough to clear my throat). The problem just wont go away....i too am a mild asthmatic, very much under control but could it be related?

AntiVirus

Just thought I'd post up a quick reply. My phlem problem has gome now so I think it may have been due to the very cold weather and lack of running over the christmas period.

Jnealon

I find chewing gum helps me run without spitting too much

captain P

"Neilmed sinus rinse" (or any kind of saline rinse) can really help with excess snot & spit . Using it once a day clears out the tubes and helps with this kind of thing.



(it looks awkward & a bit disgusting- but isn't as uncomfortable as it seems!)

bambera

I get major runny noses when I run (incapable of breading through my nose on a regular basis anyway).

Have had to resort to wearing a pair of old black gloves and blowing like crazy into the palm of my hand when no one is about (gross I know but a tissue doesn't last after one go). Would have to do it roughly every 2km.

Have to try out the sinus rise and see if it helps.