Thread: Second Wind

Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine October 1, 2006

What Causes Second Wind?

Second wind means that when you run very fast, you reach a point where you gasp for breath, slow down but keep on pushing and after a few seconds, you feel recovered and pick up the pace. Some people think that you just slow down and allow yourself enough time to recover from your oxygen debt, but research from the University of California in Berkeley may give another explanation.
When you run fast, your muscles use large amounts of oxygen to burn carbohydrate, fat and protein for energy. If you run so fast that your lungs cannot supply all the oxygen that you need, you develop an oxygen debt that causes lactic acid to accumulate in your muscles to make them burn, and you gasp for air. The muscle burning and shortness of breath caused by the accumulation of lactic acid forces you to slow down. This research shows that the lactic acid that accumulates in muscles when you run very fast actually is the first choice of fuel for your muscles when you are running so fast that you can't get all the oxygen that you need (American Journal of Physiology- Endocrinology and Metabolism, June 2006). So your muscles switch to burning more lactic acid for energy, you need less oxygen and then you pick up the pace. Of course when you keep on pushing the pace, you can again accumulate large amounts of lactic acid in muscles, which makes them burn and hurt again.

So Pain is Gain?

I favor the mantra, "No pain... no pain!".

I'm gonna need a second wind for tomorrow's 100/12 brick! Ughhhhh! And it's supposed to be windy again (go figure), 15 mph. Maybe I'll take it inside.....we'll see.

Heather

Ok, Spike, so again you're my hero! I did the ride outside and just found some ways around the wind for the majority of the ride. And yes, you were all there with me today on the ride, especially at mile 75 when you're just really tired of moving your legs in circles. We had a major thunderstorm roll in just in time for me to finish the bike, but it nixed my run. This was a particularly bad one, and had me a little worried for a tornado. VERY high winds, hard rain, hail, and tons of lightning. But, I had legs at the end and I've done nonstop housework since I got home. My husband's birthday is Saturday, we're having a party, and my best friend and her family are coming to visit for the weekend. I fired my housecleaner about a month ago and with keeping up with training, its been a battle for my house to stay clean (I'm really picky about my house). So, now its crazy clean time! At least the house is getting clean!

Heather

Heather, I'm in the beginning of taper. GOD does it fell great! Run 9 w/ hill repeats tomorrow but no more than 6 after that. 50~ hard bike Sunday. Still hitting the pool hard. Most of that all ends Sunday PM when I have to travel for a week with work. I'll get in some short runs but no pool work. The good news is I'll get in some open ocean swims though (living in the Caribbean sucks that way :)). One more 30 mile ride the following Sunday and then the dance. 15 days to go and I'm P_U_M_P_E_D!