Breathing

[Bike_and_Run]

I'm just about to head out for the start of week 9 ... A full 30minutes of running! Can't believe I'm actually at this point and just days away from graduation. I never went to university so I'm expecting a big ceremony, and of course a cap and gown! 🤣🤣

But as I look back on how far I've come, there's still one thing I haven't mastered - breathing.

Don't panic, I'm not holding my breath all the way round, but earlier on in the plan I remember Laura giving tips on counting in and counting out your breaths in time with your steps.

Does anyone actually do this, or is it simply that my lack of a uni education mean counting to 4 is just beyond my ability?

[damienair Graduate]

Breathing is natural so don’t think about it. The more you run and the fitter you become the easier it will be to breathe.

Running at a 6 min/km pace used to be my flat out fast uncomfortable pace for a 5K and my lungs would be burning and I would have found breathing difficult. Now that’s my comfortable 10K pace where I can hold a full conversation as I run.

It takes time but you’ll get there.

Damien

[Confusedofaxminster Graduate]

Well done you! The breathing does come naturally, I'm finding. That said, having graduated only three days ago, I ran today to Laura's changing bpm's on the graduation podcasts and got in a right old breathing pickle again 😅. I'm confident it will regulate as I concentrate less and relax more. And no, I don't count my breaths. Have a great week and we'll be there with the cameras upon graduation 😁.

[Bike_and_Run Graduate in reply to Confusedofaxminster]

There are graduation podcasts? Awesome! I'll have to Try to find them for next week

[Confusedofaxminster Graduate in reply to Bike_and_Run]

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/c...

AFTER!!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

The breathe in for 4 , out for 4 never worked for me . I ended up just breathing normally then over the past few months I've managed nose breathing which really helps . Good luck with your final week . 😊

[tiggs1 Graduate]

Good luck on week 9... amazing achievement I find that if I focus on my breathing my legs stop moving... multitasking is not my strong point!

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Hey uni doesn’t make you a runner just leaves you with a student loan and living back with mum and dad waiting for that elusive job you are now over qualified with.

Just remember for every in breath you need an out but sometimes you can do an out followed by an in just so it doesn’t get too repetitive.

We are all winners here at the end of every run but of course we will all be championing you at the end of week 9 - at uni graduation you usually only get 2 guests so this is a win win forum - no debt, increased fitness and loads of cheers.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

We will all be waiting at the finish line 🏁 to congratulate you & make sure you are still breathing! 🤣 You are so close now!! Well done!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I had trouble doing this, so resigned myself to not being in the next Olympic squad and just carried on breathing normally.

A couple of years later I realised that my breathing pattern, when running at a comfortable pace, almost exactly matches Laura's recommendation.

Remember not to push hard all the time. That is the sign of a rookie runner. You should be able to speak clear ungasping sentences.......an easy conversational pace.......for 80% of your running time.