FasterNearGirls

Well, I was in good shape until August. Riding almost 800 miles/month average and placing 2 top 10 and 2 top 5 in my 4 Cat5 races late in the season. All fun. Until I hurt my right knee on a stupid MTB incident and completely stopped riding. I gained 15 lbs, ate a lot of bad stuff and drank a lot of beers. Totally out of shape.

This week I got back on the saddle. Flat 12 miles the other day only.

This morning, I did a short 20 mile ride in which I went up a short steep hill (The Wall - Philadelphia) Very steep. HR over Max. But I made it. After the steep, I was dizzy and almost passing out. I rode the 10 miles back home no problem but with a slight blood taste in my mouth. Now I have an urge to cough. Hope everything is OK.

Amazing to think I was doing repeats 3 or 4 times on that thing just a few months ago. At least my knee is OK now even though I may have ruptured an artery or something.

Harlan

Coughing for a few hours after hard exercise, especially when it's colder, seems the norm for me.

FasterNearGirls

oh good thats comforting.

abstractform20

depends. i push hard sometimes, but when i change my diet the stool comes out easier.

do you have hamroids?

ahsposo 

Sounds like tuberculosis to me.

savvy523

Beer and junk food is your enemy. That's your problem. But also the 15 lbs could have been associated with it. Maybe your tooth is loose and you have some blood dripping haha . Good luck with whatever it is. You'll probably be awesome like before in no time .

bianchi10

I have had that as well. I also cough after breathing heavily from being tired. ESPECIALLY when it is cold out like it is now.

Silvercivic27

happens to everybody every now and then.

ChucklesKY

It's consumption. . . . . .of beer and junk food!

gbg

The taste of blood is fairly common, I think the explanation was the alveoli in your lungs being overexerted and blood gets through.
I get it on colder/dry days when I really push sprints. I think the cold/dry makes it worse than warm humid air.

LowCel 

Hate to tell you this but it is impossible for your heart rate to go above your max.

gregf83 

The worst thing you can do after a hard sprint up a hill is to stop suddenly. The blood pools in your legs and it's possible to faint. Better to keep riding at a lower intensity.

The blood taste and coughing is not unusual after a long period of inactivity. You were using parts of your lungs that aren't normally necessary for sitting on the couch and drinking beer.

ericm979

Not possible. HRmax formulas are useless. I don't know why that myth persists. The highest number you see is your HRmax (on the bike; it's usually a bit higher for running).

The cough is common after hard efforts. I get it after some races or training rides.

EdIsMe

It's entirely possible for your heart rate to go above your max. Max heart rate is a calculated figure suggesting the maximum your heart rate should go, not will or could go. Taste of blood is pretty common too, simply from the inflammation of blood vessels in your throat and lungs. This is also especially noticeable during cold weather when your lungs tend to hold less fluid/mucous. The urge to cough could also be caused by this inflammation. So all-in-all, pretty normal for what you put yourself through. Be glad you didn't pass out or puke. Also, try to drink plenty of water and get plenty of vitamin C, E, A via veggies or supplements to keep your immune system up as you get back into shape. One thing I've been doing personally is filling one water bottle with hot herbal tea instead of cold water during rides and even if it does nothing physically, it helps me mentally.

hhnngg1

No, HR max is your max tested HR. If you push to a higher HR during a race or training, that becomes your new HRmax.

The formulas are lame attempts at getting this number without putting someone through the suffering required to find it out. But the formulas are notoriously inaccurate. Leading to comments like exceeding your maxHR.

LowCel 

Exactly.

EdIsMe

My mistake, I had assumed we were talking about calculated HRmax. But I guess we were... validating your statement anyway.

kf9yr

I've had the coughing and blood taste after doing some killer hill repeats in hot really dry conditions (95-100F 10/15% humidity).

I've even coughed up pink mucus a couple of times in the past.

Now that I ride year round and don't really get out of shape I haven't had it happen anymore. I suspect it happens more when you're not in top shape as your body isn't as efficient using the Oxygen and pumping your blood so there's more stress on your lungs trying to suck in more air.

I agree with not stopping, when you crest the hill reduce your effort and spin and the dizzy spell should pass quicker than if you just stop

generalkdi

I almost always have the coughing thing after a long ride. No problem there, never noticed about some blood taste. And well, I mostly feel dizzy on top of hills, you gotta HTFU isn't it? That's what I do.

gregf83 

It's not normal to feel dizzy at the top of the hill. If that is a happening on a regular basis you should probably get checked out.

DGlenday

justadude

"Think I pushed too hard. ? " <--That's what She said! Years ago, I had that blood/cough thing occur in association with hard breathing with running in freezing temperatures. It was annoying and went away after a while. I suggest a physical exam, just to be safe and not worry.

FasterNearGirls

Thanks everyone.