I still struggle sometimes but my body has learned to make up for the loss of a lung
Richard from Lancashire ran the London Marathon 2024 for Asthma + Lung UK. He had to build his endurance up gradually because he only has one lung, meaning he has less oxygen capacity than other runners, which can affect his ability to exercise. Read more about how he keeps active with his condition.
I had always been fit and well until I had to have my right lung removed in 2008 when it suddenly collapsed. I’d been suffering from a tight feeling in my chest and initially thought it was a chest infection until an X-ray showed otherwise.
A wake-up call
When I left hospital after the surgery to remove my lung, I was acutely aware it would impact my life. I had always been sporty, playing football and golf. It was a wake-up call really as I met a lot of very poorly people in the specialist heart and lung unit.
The biggest issue was my lung oxygen capacity. I was told I would never be as fit as I was before having the lung removed. And that my ability to do endurance type sports would decline and probably get worse as I got older, as it does for all of us.
However, I was determined to make the most of my one remaining lung so I took up rugby and regular training.
Finding the strength to get fit again
My specialist never told me it would be a problem for me to continue sports, just that I’d find it harder. I would hit the wall sooner than the other players and would have to start training much earlier in the season to keep up with them. But I refused to let having one lung stop me from being active.
My initial urge was to wrap myself in up cotton wool and stop playing sport and take things easy. But I met so many people in hospital in a much worse position than me who were never going to get better and who couldn’t do anything. They gave me the strength to get myself fit again and into shape.
It’s exciting to see how far I can push myself
Over last few years I’ve taken up several challenges to raise money for charity but I had always wanted to run the London Marathon. I checked that it was safe with my doctor first before I started training by running a few miles a week.
It takes me longer to build up capacity so I knew I’d need more than 16 weeks to train for it. It was tough at times though. I’ve never run that far in my life which is hard work but it’s exciting as well seeing how far I can push myself.
Determination to get to the finish line
I still get conscious of my breathlessness at times as I go into a shallower breath pattern when I’m talking for long periods of time. I naturally get out of breath quickly and even when running at a slow pace, and I might not be able to hold a conversation whereas other people would. My heart rate is more elevated at beginning of exercise too as my heart is having to work harder to give my body enough oxygen. But I was determined to get to that finish line. I wanted to show my little boy you don’t have to let adversity hold you back in life and I managed to raise £3,220 too!
We’ve created a free Keep Active programme which gives you everything you need to start moving more with your lung condition. As well as how to manage breathlessness when you’re active. Visit our website to find out more about the programme and to watch our videos to get you moving, at a pace that suits you.
We empower people with lung conditions to make changes that can be transformative.
Please donate now to help make sure people with lung conditions can live well this year.
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Beki is a PhD student from the West Midlands. She has several health conditions including severe asthma and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). EDS is a rare inherited condition that affects connective tissue. Last May, Beki set herself a fundraising challenge to complete 180,000 steps to raise money to mark World Asthma Day and EDS Awareness Month.