A respected osteopath (Robert Fulford — recently deceased) wrote that three things are sure to affect one’s condition: emotional trauma, diet, and barometric pressure. He wrote that drops in b.p. cause listlessness and achiness. I think he argued that lower b.p., like high humidity, means there is less oxygen readily available to the system: humidity, because there is more water in the air per cubic measure, thus squeezing out oxygen; and b.p. because there is literally less pressure available to force oxygen into the lungs.

I’ve noticed that on runs that are identical in distance, my physical condition, temperature, etc etc, I can have wildly different experiences — one will be easy, another very difficult. Usually the difficult ones include a higher avg. HR.

I have come to suspect b.p. is the culprit. To test it, I’ve done three identical five-mile runs (so far): two were great, one was so tough I couldn’t finish. After each run, I recorded the barometric pressure (didn’t check it beforehand, lest I prejudice my results). Both good reuns were relatively high b.p. (30.10 inches or higher); the bad one relatively low (29.92 inches). Interestingl, my avg HR was significantly lower on the good runs, as I might have forecast.

I’m going to continue to record HR, subjective experience of difficulty, and temp, humidity, and b.p. on comparable runs.

A friend, an experienced runner and physiologist, tells me that b.p. is a well-known variable in running performance. She also says that she believes the effects of b.p. are strongly age-related: the older one is, the more likely one is to feel the effects of change. Reminded me of the elders who can feel storms coming — their bones ache!

Do you have any new thoughts on this subject?

– Jerry

Weird, I know. But true.

I will definitely let you know.

I did some reading about barometric pressure and will try to find the articles for you. You are on the right track!!

Also, I wanted to offer any assistance with respect to doctors for young Christopher. My husband and I went through all of this when Lindsey was 16 months old, so this brings back alot of memories of a very stressful time, BUT, the good thing is, there is alot of information out there about asthma. Good luck, if you need any assistance, let me know.

Now as for your running blog it is fabulous and anything you would like to “enhance” mine….have at her!!!

Love to you.