Help!

[Haha101]

It is hard to breathe through my nose because my throat feels like it's clogged. But breathing through my mouth is fine! Why can't I breathe through my nose?!?

[Unfitdad59 Graduate]

I can't breathe through my nose either. I guess my level of puffing and panting means I cannot draw enough air in through my nose that I need. I just accept it. I guess on long runs it might dry out my throat. But I don't intend to run long distance so I don't consider it a problem. Maybe once we are fitter the amount of air we need will reduce, so nose breathing will become possible. Good luck!

[Hidden]

Me neither. In normal circumstances like sitting here typing it's fine, but for any type of exercise I think I need more air than will come in that way. Apparently you can buy sticky things to out on your nose to hold your nostrils open but that sounds a weird to me! We must just have delicate little noses!

[Pollynorris Graduate]

Neither can I. It's fine, open your mouth to breath but not wide. You don't want bugs! ;D

[Spanner67 Graduate]

Same here, I can't do it either!! I used to really obsess about my breathing in the earlier days but I now find, as I've got fitter, that after the first 5-10 minutes it all settles down and I don't really think about it (never thought I would be able to say that!) However, I do find that breathing through my mouth makes my throat really dry so I always take water with me. Happy running!

[Ejbirdy Graduate]

Same here - mouth open and dry throat but someone on here advised chewing gum so I'm going to try that.

Happy running

[lambeek Graduate]

Same here - so glad it's not just me. I think for me some of it is psychological - I'm asthmatic and I feel like I don't get a full lung full of air through my nose so I start to panic. I've tried a few times and have just given up now. I'm a mouth breather

[misswobble Graduate]

I think everyone is a mouth breather. Just breathe normally

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

There is an article on the Guardian running blog all about breathing, in which they state that when pushing hard it is physically impossible to get enough air in through the nostrils. The article sums up by saying just do what comes naturally. Many of us had trouble following Laura's suggested breathing pattern but have gone on to be happy runners. Don't get hung up on it.

[josieberry Graduate]

Me too!

[bikergirl Graduate]

Me neither. Just a wee story i remember.

years ago i used to have panic attacks. And was always brought up to breathe through my nose and out through my mouth like as all. But when I had a panic attack i struggled doing the supposed correct way to breathe, it made me worse. My wonderful doctor told me one day that it was just yet another guideline of things we are MEANT to do. But the thing is the body will do what it wants and needs to do at any point in time. Just go with it. It knows what its doing the more you fight something the more difficult it is. He told me he always breathes though his mouth, he just always has and he had no health problems at all. And i never had another attack after that.

Just thought id share as its something that has stuck with me over the years, and nice to know from a doctor that its okay to let your body do what it wants.

[shortlegs1 Graduate]

Looks like quite a few of us our doing the goldfish thing. I also wonder if I must sounds like Darth Vader especially going up hill?

[Maysie1 Graduate]

I have got a huge bugle and still cant get enough air in through it!

I therefore run with my gob wide open like a basking shark and still cant get enough air into my lungs. It may not be the coolest way of running, but I am more interested in getting to the end of the session than how I breath.

I can remember nearly dying when I tried to follow Laura's advice on 'breathing to every 4 steps'. I would surely be dead now if I stuck to that!

[wispajrt Graduate]

I can't run with my mouth closed! I get a dry mouth pretty much straight away, or at least I used to until I started using chewing gum! Doing that helps a lot!

[wispajrt Graduate]

And if you've watched any athletics or cycling recently - no one does it with their mouth closed as far as I can see!

[Vanessa2712]

Interesting to read others perceptions on the breathing thru the nose thing. I really struggled to do Laura's 4 breath step thingy and let it go, thinking as long as I am moving my legs and breathing what does it matter if i getting the much needed air thru my nose, mouth or ears

I honestly thought that i was just THAT unfit I couldn't do it and the fitter I got it would come. I am no longer going to "worry" about which orifice I get oxygen from as long as i get it and the legs keep moving

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I can't breathe through my nose either, I am always too blocked up. Its never a problem, I would do what feels most comfortable

[paul2014 Graduate]

I can't breath through my nose as Laura suggests. That's one area I didn't listen to her If breathing through your mouth is easiest for you then do it that way

[teabreaks Graduate]

I'm another one who can't breathe through my nose when doing any sort of physical exertion!

[kickibro Graduate]

I can't either and it's fine. Don't worry about it xxx

[sprynn Graduate]

there is an interesting lady who runs in my park who opens and closes (but not completely) her mouth as she runs, as though she is intentionally opening her mouth wide on the inhale. Could be a yoga technique? Anyway, she looks very comfortable running and clearly does't care what anyone else thinks. Great to see so many of you all on the same track as I struggle with inhaling through my nose.