W1R2

[LaurenS91]

I found my second run a lot easier although I'm still having trouble breathing regularly. As soon as I think about my breathing it all goes to pot! I feel this might hold me back over the next few weeks!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Don't think about it!

Just do what comes naturally.....it really doesn't matter at this stage.

[Sillybilly1 Graduate]

Then don't think about it!! There's a lot on this forum about breathing, but your body knows when to breath, just do what feels right for you! We're all different. I worried about this when I first started but I soon realised that breathing is an involuntary action! Well done on your run, onward and upward!!!!👌

[Mrsmc10]

I find two breaths in and two out helps rather than one in and one out! Just little ones not big ones, but try to find a pattern! Take it slowly don't try to go too fast and if you need to repeat weeks, do so! I am coming up to 5 weeks now and only just finishing week three! You will get there!

[Irish-John Graduate]

I don't give a rats a-- about "how to breathe properly" anymore.

Asthma and almost forty years as a Nicotine Fiend leaves me grateful I still have Lungs (even if I do feel them trying to exit my chest via my nasal passages sometimes )

When my breath comes easy, I pick up my pace a bit, when it doesn't I slow the heck down. I can usually put in 5k as a result without too much angst - but it took me well over six months to learn how to pace myself so I could.

Right now just take slowly and steadily - you and your body need to learn this new thing called Running

[Gillma Graduate]

I had this problem - got the same advice as here - stopped thinking about it - and it seems to have sorted itself out. Hopefully you'll have the same experience 👍

[Funnyrunner Graduate]

I also struggled with my breathing during my early runs. At one point I was concerned that I had asthma but it was just my lungs being unable to cope with unexpected exertion! It's got easier over time so do what the others have said - slow down your pace, even if it means you're running at a snail's pace, as I was! It helped me build my aerobic capacity and I find it much easier now, even in the hot weather.

[RebeccaSK Graduate]

Breathing (or lack of) was my biggest obstacle (along with the demons in my head) in those first few weeks. All the advice given here is great. For me, however, formalising my breathing really helped. I had a tendency not to breath properly and my lungs were on fire after only 30 seconds of running. Try finding a pattern that suits you. For me, it's two short breaths in, one breath out. Doing this also helped me get into a rhythm with my pace. Also, don't remember to relax those shoulders and open your chest. I'm on W6 now and I still have to remind myself to relax my shoulders when I'm really struggling and they've crept up, but the breathing comes naturally now. AND GO SLOW. You can work on improving your speed once you've mastered everything else (and you will master everything else) but, for now, go as slow as you feel is necessary. However slow you're going, you're still going faster than those people sitting in front of the TV on their sofas not even trying.