Running requires endurance, strength, and discipline. But what if, no matter how hard you work, your own body holds you back?

For as long as Rustyn could remember, breathing had been a challenge. Running, playing sports, even speaking—all required extra effort. He pushed through, believing this was just how life was. It wasn’t until decades later, when he learned about ADVENT, that he finally understood: breathing well wasn’t just possible—it was within reach.

What running with nasal blockage was like

For some runners, breathing is second nature—inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth. But for Rustyn, that simple rhythm was never an option. He was at a disadvantage, forced into constant mouth breathing while running, which left him feeling exhausted faster and struggling to keep pace.

"Coaches would tell me, ‘In through the nose, out through the mouth.’ But I couldn’t inhale. It wasn’t that I didn’t know how—it just wasn’t physically possible." - Rustyn L.

In high school cross country, he watched teammates recover quickly after tough workouts while he struggled to catch his breath. No matter how much he trained, his trouble breathing while running made it feel like he was working twice as hard for half the results.

"I ran my first marathon when I was 48. It was a struggle—not just because marathons are tough, but because I could see other runners around me moving effortlessly. Meanwhile, I felt like I was gasping for air. They didn’t seem to be working as hard as I was, but they were leaving me behind." - Rustyn L.

The frustration wasn’t just in racing—his breathing problems during exercise followed him into every fitness challenge he took on. During his time in the Boise Fire Academy, his breathing struggles became impossible to ignore.

"One of my fellow recruits told me, ‘You sound just like a freight train coming down.’ And my fire captain? He said, ‘If you breathe through your nose, this will be easier.’ But I couldn’t. No amount of training could fix the fact that my airways were blocked." - Rustyn L.

Rustyn could push through pain, exhaustion, and muscle fatigue—but he couldn’t outwork his body’s inability to get enough air. No matter how much he trained, he always hit a wall.

"I met the minimum fitness standard, but I couldn’t go beyond that. I washed out of the academy, and my breathing was a big part of it." - Rustyn L.

Even after years of running, his breathing issues affecting his fitness meant he never felt like he was performing at the level he should. But since he had lived that way for so long, he didn’t realize just how much his breathing was holding him back. That changed when he had his balloon sinuplasty procedure.

Addressing the root cause of poor endurance

For decades, Rustyn had no idea why breathing felt so difficult. It wasn’t until he sought medical help that he finally got an answer.

"A doctor took a quick look up my nasal cavity and said, ‘It’s no wonder CPAP didn’t work for you. It’d be like trying to push air through a brick wall.’ My septum was so deviated, with bone growth and swollen turbinates.” - Rustyn L.

The explanation made sense, but the solution—traditional septoplasty—felt out of reach. The procedure was invasive, expensive, and required a long recovery. Rustyn put the idea on the back burner until he visited ADVENT years later. Instead of traditional surgery, ADVENT offered Rustyn a simple in-office solution: balloon sinuplasty. Rather than breaking and repositioning the septum, the procedure gently opens blocked nasal passages, allowing for natural airflow with minimal downtime.

Rustyn scheduled his appointment, and within days, he noticed a change. For the first time, air flowed freely.

Benefits of balloon sinuplasty for Rustyn’s fitness

Rustyn had spent his entire life pushing through a breathing problem he didn’t even know could be fixed. His deviated septum and exercise performance had always been connected, but he never realized the impact until after treatment. Now, with clear airways, he wasn’t just running—he was running stronger, faster, and without limits.

"Normally, two miles was my limit. But [after the balloon sinuplasty] I knocked out four. And then I realized—I could do four more. I wasn’t exhausted. That was pretty amazing." - Rustyn L.

With his airways fully open, Rustyn was able to push himself further than ever before, overcoming the endurance problems caused by nasal obstruction that had limited him for decades. Running was no longer about survival—it became something he could enjoy.

His new endurance was put to the test as he took on bigger challenges, including an upcoming half marathon at high elevation.

"This weekend, I’m doing a half marathon in Utah—13 miles at a higher elevation. But I’m actually excited. I want to see what it feels like to run that distance and truly be able to breathe." - Rustyn L.

For the first time, he wasn’t fighting his own body. His performance finally matched his effort.

Take the first step toward breathing well

If you struggle to catch your breath during workouts, feel like you’re working harder than you should, or constantly hit a wall with endurance, there’s a reason—and a breathing evaluation can help uncover it. ADVENT looks at your entire Breathing Triangle® to find the root cause of your struggles. If nasal blockages are holding you back, simple in-office solutions can help you breathe freely, perform better, and finally move without limitations.

Take control of your health. Schedule an appointment with ADVENT today.

‍