Copd Athlete

Copd Athlete COPD diagnosis doesn't mean you become stationary. Exercise your way to a better life! Ironman x 3 World Marathon Majors finisher. Smoke , Stroke, Ironman Bloke !

My name is Russell Winwood, I was born in 1966 in Brisbane Australia. I’ve had a good life thus far but have had a few health issues along the way. I have decided to take to blogging to share my experiences with other people in the hope that it can help people with similar health issues. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was young, but managed to have an active childhood playing sports & doing what most kids do. In my late teens I started smoking socially, I’m not sure why as I knew it was bad for me but continue to be a social smoker until I was 36. Christmas Day 2002 I collapsed , too many years of not looking after myself had caught up with me in the form of a stroke. Time to change my habits , I gave up the cigarettes , started eating better, at the time of my stroke I was 88 kg about 15 kg over weight . My son had just started cycling & talked me into taking it up, best thing I ever did . The weight started coming off & I started feeling like a 36 year old should. A friend of mine suggested I should do a triathlon, & after a little hesitation because I wasn’t a great swimmer I agreed. So for the next 8yrs I raced into varying distances of triathlons from sprint to Half Ironman as well as a couple of ultra marathons. In 2011 after noticing my times were getting slower, exercise was getting harder & I was constantly short of breath I took myself off to the Doctors. Spirometer & lung function tests confirmed I had copd, surprisingly the scan showed that there was no damage to my lungs from smoking. My airways had become very narrow due to years of chest infections causing a build up of scar tissue. And so my Ironman journey begins , hopefully my blogs will give some insight on exercising with copd & respiratory disease in general.

COPD Baton Pass 2025 here I come 👏👏👏
18/11/2025

COPD Baton Pass 2025 here I come 👏👏👏

Is there something you’d like to know about pulmonary rehab or another related topic? Check out our program and join o...
17/11/2025

Is there something you’d like to know about pulmonary rehab or another related topic? Check out our program and join on the day for our Q&A sessions. You can also drop and questions in the comments below. Wednesday November 19!

COPD Baton Pass event program is now live. Join the global event on Wednesday November 19. Click on the link to see what...
16/11/2025

COPD Baton Pass event program is now live. Join the global event on Wednesday November 19. Click on the link to see what's happening in your country.

This event will be delivered with technical support provided by Southampton Solent University, and Sonar Events. Beginning in New Zealand, and passing the baton to Europe This link will be the first 8 hours of live the broadcast. Beginning in Europe, coming to the UK, with a few pitstops This link w...

12/11/2025

7 days until we launch the 2025 COPD Baton Pass event! Join us in raising awareness of the importance of exercise to manage Join the "COPD Baton Pass" group on StepUp, a fun step challenge app.
https://join.thestepupapp.com/GufL8X

Congratulations Baton Pass Team on a fantastic October👏👏👏. 9 days until our World COPD Day event “COPD Baton Pass”For...
10/11/2025

Congratulations Baton Pass Team on a fantastic October👏👏👏. 9 days until our World COPD Day event “COPD Baton Pass”
For a 24 hour period we’re counting our steps globally to shine a light on the importance of activity! Join in the challenge

"COPD Baton Pass" group on StepUp, a fun step challenge app.
https://join.thestepupapp.com/GufL8X

Join COPD Baton Pass event on November 19th to discover everything pulmonary rehabilitation and activity.
07/11/2025

Join COPD Baton Pass event on November 19th to discover everything pulmonary rehabilitation and activity.

Wow! It’s been 10 years since my wife and I completed the NY marathon. Where’s that time gone 🤔
03/11/2025

Wow! It’s been 10 years since my wife and I completed the NY marathon. Where’s that time gone 🤔

Thank you TerryWhite Chemmart Birkdale for your ongoing support for
01/11/2025

Thank you TerryWhite Chemmart Birkdale for your ongoing support for

World COPD Day Big Baton Pass is coming up on Nov 19th! We can all add our daily step counts to Copd Athlete's team by following the link:
https://link.thestepupapp.com/GufL8X?fbclid=IwY2xjawNySvxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBVZDExVEt1d2E1dUdBd3RwAR5pSGe1OAWbi2ObrQAOojF2M4Q25vaD_-UVXb9hdpeRHor3ZUSfUdTdB6EOSg_aem_5iilSirZsUhvvQBARuv8TA

Copd Athlete is a Birkdale local who has completed the SIX world marathon majors all while using supplementary oxygen 💪🏃 Check out his page for more info 🤩

COPD Baton Pass event Australia & New Zealand program. Scan the QR code to join the event on Wednesday November 19.
29/10/2025

COPD Baton Pass event Australia & New Zealand program. Scan the QR code to join the event on Wednesday November 19.

27/10/2025

Thinking about joining the COPD Baton Pass Step Challenge for World COPD Day this year? Listen to what our members think!
Join Now - https://join.thestepupapp.com/UnY3

Excited to announce the Australian and New Zealand speakers for this years COPD Baton Pass event. This is your chance to...
24/10/2025

Excited to announce the Australian and New Zealand speakers for this years COPD Baton Pass event. This is your chance to join in and have your questions answered. Live Q&A will be running. For details email me at russell@copdbatonpass.org

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