In the past month I have really been struggling with my running. To start you off, I am a 21 year old runner who's been running for around a year but have done sports pretty much from young.

I have had to cut back on my running a bit simply because I can't handle it anymore. I've taken more days off, taken runs easier but everything is feeling much tougher.

I sleep, eat and hydrate myself well. Don't drink or smoke either. Each training day is getting worse and worse. Very basic runs are now feeling very tough. Where I use to do 12/13 miles at 7:45 minute per mile comfortably, I am now struggling to do 4/5 miles at 8:20 minutes per mile and it's a real hangout.

My resting heart rate has shot up from 48bpm to 56bpm, and when I do sports my HR is through the roof. When I walk it's sensative, walking up steps and hills and I can feel my HR through the roof again. My breathing is a lot heavier. I went to the doctors and asked him about it, sent me for a blood test and my Iron levels, bone profile, Thyroid, Liver and blood count was all fine... I'm getting enough rest aswell.

The training I am doing now is very basic compared to what I was doing 2/3 months ago, but it's feeling tougher now for some reason. I feel very very unfit and the most basic of runs are now getting tough. Is the problem a cardio problem with my heart or lungs?

When I asked the doctor why my HR is quicker than normal all he said was that as long as my HR is in the 60 - 90 zone there is nothing wrong, but what he doesn't understand is that it's quicker than what it should be and something is causing that. It's a real discomfort when I exercise too, it really feels like it's about to come out of my chest and it shouldn't feel like that because I've absolutely pushed myself hard in the past and I never got that!

One other thing, my muscles are now getting sore over very light training.. something I never usually had. Was on 40 miles a week, now am barely on 20 miles per week because my body will not let me.

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