When I was 8, I was diagnosed with asthma. When I was in 8th grade, I began running with no issues, albeit 2 miles a day with only the occasional 3 mile "long run," some hard workouts, and racing (2 mile CC, 1600m track).
The summer going into my Freshman year, I began experiencing breathing problems. I'd get dropped and would have to use my inhaler. I don't remember how hard I was running in the summer, but probably too hard since I was trying to stay with faster kids.
I was then diagnosed more specifically with exercise-induced asthma and began taking medication such as Advair and getting regular allergy shots, as a histological test showed I was allergic to grass and pollen.
Sophomore year was the worst. I had major problems the summer going into it and dropped out of nearly every single CC race. However, I rarely had issues during hard workouts for some reason.
Junior year was a bit better. I stopped having problems on easy runs entirely and still never in workouts. Only in races. I managed to close out CC season very well, though, and with no attacks. I made varsity, ran 10:16 in a 3200 time trial, and 17:34 on a 5k CC course, which at the time I thought I'd never do. The 10:16 was shocking.
Going into senior year, I got up to 70 mpw over the summer and felt very strong and confident going into CC season. I started off the fastest on the team and ran 10:22 on our CC 2 mile course. I had no issues at all for 99% of the season and ran 16:42 on the state 5k course. By this point I was on max strength Advair and had been taking allergy shots all these years. However, then a red flag happened. I got a stomach virus a few weeks before District and had to miss a race. The next time I raced was District, and I finally had an "attack." I finished the race but ran terribly.
Winter mileage went fine, track season went mostly fine. Early in the season, I ran my first 800 in a 4x8 and ran 2:04. A few hours later, I ran 9:59 in the 3200. A couple weeks later, I ran 4:32 in the 1600 with a 66 last 400. I had one attack at a meet near several refineries because the air was polluted, I guess. Then District came. I went out in 4:50 in the 3200 and there was still a wall of guys ahead of me. Then I had an attack and dropped out.
Fast forward through college and I had almost no issues. I ran my 5k PR on the lowest possible dose of Advair. Still to this day I have no issues and I'm off meds entirely. I've heard asthma becomes dormant for a lot of people in adulthood. However, as I look back now, I can't help but wonder if it was mental for me. I'm ashamed.