To wonder if passive smoking was the reason I was so rubbish at PE

[Comedycook]

So I am a child of the 1980s. I always thought passive smoking had had no effect on me but recently I've been thinking and I'm not so sure.

So my parents both smoked throughout my childhood. Pretty sure my mum smoked during her pregnancy. They always smoked indoors and in the car...no windows open.

Anyway, I've always been crap at PE...now I know there are many factors which could affect that. But I'm talking from a really young age where I can't see any significant difference between myself and my peers. I remember being 4 years old in the playground and any type of running race or game being last and last by a long way every single time. Now I wasn't a fat child at all. I was thin throughout my primary school years...I also wasn't particularly sedentary compared to the other kids. I did swimming and ballet and all the usual stuff. Nor did I have an unhealthy diet. So why was I constantly so awful at running and last every time? Was thinking to myself maybe it was down to the passive smoking?. I also suffer greatly from any cold or respiratory virus...it always takes me a long time to recover.

Anyway, I'm not especially traumatized or upset by any of this ..I'm literally just wondering... anyone have any thoughts?

Thats an interesting theory.

The thing is it's hard to know isn't it what is or isn't caused by certain factors. Like actual smoking, we all know the odd person who smokes like a chimney and made it to 90... doesn't mean smoking is good for us

And I've just googled about heart size and apparently it does determine fitness. My father was a very slim man but very very unfit.

My sister and I spent our 1970s childhood kippered by our heavy smoker parents. Sunday drives with windows firmly closed (also no rear seatbelts, and a stop for bar lunch but that’s another story) were not uncommon. My sister was fleet of foot went to running club. I could not run faster than an uncoordinated jog even if someone had chased me with a knife! Think it is just down to natural ability and training. I do think the passive smoking was bad for us, my sis was the one with bronchitis every year, but no impact on running skills.