We’ll just started my journey, just finished R3W1, and I was wondering if anyone had advice on breathing techniques ? Controlled breathing or and useful breathing techniques?
Beginner and struggling!: We’ll just started my... - Couch to 5K
Beginner and struggling!



Well one you... hopefully you will have read the How to run C25K post.... and in there the section on running pace is very helpful...
I quote...
"... You will be told to do your running intervals at a gentle jog, which means you should still be able to hold a conversation, not just gasp the odd word. If you are gasping or panting you are going too fast and with short breaths, you are not going to get enough oxygen into your body to supply the demands of your muscles and you will tire quickly and you will also suffer more aches and pains because of stress on your legs. This is called your easy conversational pace. It will be different for each runner and will get faster as you get fitter. This is the pace at which even elite athletes spend as much as 80% of their training time........... although considerably faster than most of us. The body of a new runner will adapt perfectly adequately at a nice gentle jog."
As long as you are running comfortably and breathing steadily.... then carry on. Trying to adjust our breathing can be tricky... some folk do breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth... some not... some breathe in and out with mouth open... or mouth closed...some count.... in breath and out breath.... but you have to find what is right for you.
As with many aspects of our running, there may be a tendency to overthink it... breathing is a bit like blinking... we do it automatically If we think about it... it becomes harder... ( bet you just blinked and thought about it
So... find a pace where you are really comfortable and don't feel as if you are struggling with any aspect ...
Onward and upward
Thanks, that’s actually really useful!