In an effort to explore a little bit closer to home and get some fresh air, I decided to go on a hike with a friend. We picked a moderate trail and a beautiful day: sunny, 70 degrees, with a slight breeze. I’m unsure who decided to label the trail moderate, but would like to have words with them. It started off fine for the first few miles, but the end of it was a super steep climb with zero spots to catch your breath. I thought I was smart by bringing my inhaler (for exercise induced asthma) only to realize that it had expired several years ago. Of course my friend, who runs marathons and trains constantly, was absolutely fine which only added to my feeling ridiculously out of shape.
Pro-tip: Go at your own pace. I was trying to keep up with my friend and didn’t allow myself to rest, which only exacerbated the problem. Went hiking a couple weeks later (at a similar difficulty) and didn’t have nearly as strong a reaction because I took my time.