Breathing skills

[KateBounce]

Any tips on breathing skills when running? I am advised to breathe in on 4 and out on 4 but don’t find it feels very natural

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Just breathe..like you do all the time..if you are struggling for breath.. slow down

[KateBounce in reply to Oldfloss]

Ok thank you! I tend to shallow breathe but wasn’t sure if there was more of a technique to it

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to KateBounce]

You just don't overthink it.. like blinking.. you do it all the time..but if someone mentions blinking... uh oh... It will come..just relax and enjoy

[Denovo in reply to Oldfloss]

Exactly! The more I think about it, the less I breathe

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Denovo]

... and when some one says you don't think about blinking..it makes you over blink

[Redtracey Graduate]

I try not to think about my breathing at all and it falls into place!

I have never been able to breathe in through nose and out through mouth nor to count of 4 - the less I concentrate on it better it seems to be!!! 😊

[AnnieW55]

Just do it in a way that feels comfortable and try not to think about it (you don’t in your usual day-to-day life so no need to here). It generally settles down and then you notice it has! Having said that I think if you can breathe a bit deeper you will benefit as you will get more oxygen into your body which is A Good Thing 😀. And as Old Floss says slow down so that you don’t get too out of breath.

[mrrun Graduate]

I normally hold air for 30 seconds every 22 steps then breathe in and out, then pass out, rinse and repeat. Occasionally l will breathe in and out 7 times per second before passing out.

Maybe you should try less vigorous technique which simply involves running and breathing without thinking? You know, like kids do! Some say it works.

[KateBounce]

Thank you all! I shall try to just breathe 😂

[sallenson Graduate]

Just do your normal breathing thing for the time being. I promise it gets easier, honest...

One thing to try when you're feeling more comfortable is instead of adjusting your breathing to your steps, adjust your steps to your breathing:

What we normally do is get flustered and breathless thinking "I can't breathe in/out until I've done x steps". Instead of that take smaller slightly faster steps. That will get your cadence a bit higher (i.e. steps per minute) and you'll be able to breathe in a more natural rhythm.

That's for another day tho.

Right now, just breathe hon...

[KateBounce in reply to sallenson]

That’s great! Thanks for the tip!