Hi. I've just started c25k on a treadmill at home (as I'm home schooling my children). I already exercise but doing more weight based things. When I start to run I get exhausted breathing really quickly.
Any tips to help with this? Is it normal?
Gabby
Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.
Can you speak aloud, clear, ungasping sentences as you run?.........if not, you are going too fast.
Slowing down to the recommended easy conversational pace makes it more achievable and for most, more enjoyable.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.
Enjoy your journey.
Probably go slower. I think everyone starts off too fast until they learn to pace better. Also don't overthink the breathing, just try to breathe as naturally as possible. I found it much easier when I stopped thinking about it too much. Good luck x
Next run, instead of trying to "match" your breathing to your running, switch it around and focus on breathing with the pace of your running matching it.
It sounds daft - but it works 
As for speed - every so often I will try and run 5k as slowly as I possibly can without breaking inti a "walking step" Its a lot harder than you might think and its good to be reminded that pace is tricky - our subconscious equates "run" with "fast"
Wishing you many happy miles in your future.
Turn the speed setting down until you reach a speed that you're more comfortable with. It's probably quite hard to judge what speed to set it at if you've just started.
Starting with brisk walking speed, and then adjust it upwards very gradually until you're forced into a slow jog. Stay at that speed!
It’s normal, running challenges the body in a different way to resistance work. Try slowing down a bit, maybe try singing along to a song or talking to yourself if you’re on a treadmill at home 😊
Hi the3rdwife,
I struggled with my breathing early on describing myself as sounding like an asthmatic donkey but now I can run 7 to 8km without getting out of breath. I graduated last November so not that long ago so it can happen quite quickly.
As others have said, keep your running to a sensible pace. Try and hold a conversation or sing along to any music your are listening to to make sure you are not going too fast.
Other than that, don't worry, trust in the app and maybe re-evaluate your breathing in a month or so's time 😀
Thankyou so much for your help everybody. I really struggle with cardio, so hoping that tve runonng will help with my lung/heart strength
I'm like you, weights and running, maybe try brisk walking for five minutes then run slowly and see how it goes, I'm using a treadmill too. If you can't talk clearly without sounding out of breath and fumbling the words then you are going to fast.
Good luck.
To me, it sounds more like just finding the right speed on the treadmill, given that you're new to it. I repeat, find your walking speed on it. Start off nice and slow and then turn up the speed very gradually until you break into a slow jog. That's your starting point. Just try and find what's comfortable for you.
Bear in mind, that you will get much warmer and much sweatier on a treadmill, indoors. This will make it feel harder - your heart rate will increase to compensate. So best to go nice and slow until you're used to it.
I also find it really hard to concentrate on breathing and running and pacing myself - multi-task madness! But; I found if I concentrate on my out breath by really extending it - sort of blowing it out, and leave my in breath to its own devices I manage to a) make myself feel better, and b) bring an element of control to my breath without over thinking it.
Also - if you’re too out of breath, go slower. Aim for stamina, not speed. Good
Luck x
Somebody shared this when I was doing c25k and it was a revelation! Even when you think you are going slow - you can slow down some more! You can work on speed once you've built up the stamina. Check this out - Japanese slow jogging! youtu.be/9L2b2khySLE
Hi the3rdwife well done for starting C25k.
My tips to you are: Try to relax when you run and don’t overthink it, it helps a lot. Get your breathing into a good steady rhythm. Take a nice deep breath in through your mouth (not too quickly) then purse your lips slightly as you exhale. Imagine your body is like a machine and the oxygen your taking on board is your fuel, once you get that rhythm going, you’ll find that as you’re taking in sufficient oxygen you won’t feel so out of breath. Hope this helps......Good Luck 👍🏃♀️
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