Breathing

[Lurcher2]

Hi guys.

I’m onto week 2 run 2. I’m struggling with my breathing towards the end of the 90 second run. Do you guys recommend doing week 2 a couple of times until my breathing gets better? It’s what my brain tells me to do, but just wondered what you guys think.

🥴

[Buddy34 Graduate]

The only way to sort your breathing is slowing your run right down . It's only a few weeks back I was having trouble with the same thing and going slower sorted it . You can repeat any runs or week that you want .

C25k is an amazing plan and really does work you'll get lots of encouragement and support on here good luck 😊

[Lurcher2 in reply to Buddy34]

It certainly is good to read how other people are getting on. I know I’m not the only one struggling a bit. 👍🏻

[Buddy34 Graduate in reply to Lurcher2]

That's why it's great to post and read other posts. It really is about slowing right down and you will notice a difference 😊

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate]

Hi Lurcher2, well done for getting started! I completely agree with Buddy, the only way through is to slow down. It really doesn't matter how slowly you go. It's all about duration now, speed or distance will come much later.

When I started I pushed myself much too hard and would be sick after every run because I thought I needed to push myself that hard. Slowing down to conversational pace is the advice.

If you feel like you want or need to redo a run it's entirely your call, there's no time limit on c25k. But technically, the only runs you need to repeat are the ones you can't complete. Trust the programme, it will lead you nicely to 30 minutes!

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!

[Lurcher2 in reply to Fatgirlslim19]

It’s only the last 2 runs where I really have to fight giving up! But I haven’t given up yet. My ‘recovery’ time is so much better now. My breathing was absolutely dreadful when I started that first week, but now it all calms down really quickly. I’ll keep going with the plan 😊 I’m so overweight and unfit 🥴

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate in reply to Lurcher2]

Lots of us are/were! I'm still overweight, but fitter than I was 😆

I never mastered the breathing in for 2 and out for 2 and can't breathe through my nose when I run (fine the rest of the time) but ChoosingHappy is right - it works for a lot of people.

Now that you're running for longer, your body is asking for a lot more oxygen, meaning you breathe quicker. Slowing down is helpful for letting it adjust.

[ChoosingHappy Graduate]

I think it might have been one of the runs in week 2 when Laura on the app suggested breathing in for 2 strides and then out for 2 strides, this really helped me, and now I try to breathe in slowly through my nose for 3 seconds and then slowly out through my mouth for 3 seconds and that seems to work for me. Might be worth a try?

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate in reply to ChoosingHappy]

Good advice, ChoosingHappy 😊

[ChoosingHappy Graduate in reply to Fatgirlslim19]

Thanks, its just what worked for me 😊

[Lurcher2 in reply to ChoosingHappy]

Thanks, I’ll give this a go 👍🏻

[Lizdd]

I know exactly where you’re coming from! I did my first week 2 run yesterday and those extra 30 seconds nearly killed me! I did finish the whole run but paid for it with a pain down the inside of my knee. I’m so determined to do this but I’m really disappointed in myself for struggling so much...

[RunLikeGump]

I used to have similar problem. Slowing down is a good way to manage breathing. My "hyperventilating" was caused by some sort of panic that I'll be out of breath so I repeated a mantra in my mind "breath in - breath out" as per app advice and eventually my breathing rhythm was in sync with running. Lighter clothes helped too!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Definitely need to slow down by the sounds of it. Have you read the guide to the programme? It advises "conversational pace" do have a look, its stuffed with great info

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...