Struggles with breathing

[LimpParsnip]

Just completed week five run #3 and I'm well chuffed. I could hardly run the 60 seconds of run #1 week 1 when I started. The nice lady on the app tells me to breathe through my nose and out through my mouth!!!! I seem to be sucking a vacuum through every orifice no matter how slow I run. Does this get any easier?

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate]

Don't worry too much about the breathing for now. I don't think many of us managed to follow advice about so many steps per breath or in through the nose. Some people like to focus on their breath, but it's not necessary to make it through C25K.

As long as you're going slow enough to speak sentences without gasping for breath, you're ok. 👍🏼 Yes it does get easier.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Well done with your progress ! And don't worry about trying to breathe in a particular way .

I find I mostly breathe in through nose and mouth together.

But do what feels natural .

Just remember to run at a conversational pace , andyour breathing will look after itself for now

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Relax, and just breathe, like you always do. Try not to overthink it. If you focus on it, it gets really tricky...like blinking!If you are struggling a lot, then you may be moving too quickly, even if you think you are not.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This FAQ Post about breathing may help healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

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.

[DanMac1983]

Breathing through my nose doesnt work well, i do it through my mouth. Only problem with that is my throat and lungs hurt when its cold out. I think its important to concentrate more on rhythm of breathing with steps. One breath in for me works out about 3 steps.

[njd967 Graduate]

Keep the faith as yes, it does get easier. Like you, I take in as much air as I can, whichever way and happily graduated last Sunday…by the way, I am 54 and almost 250lbs!!

[Reb1313 Graduate]

that made me laugh I have graduated but still find for the first 10 mins breathing can be a challenge but I know it will be ok so try and push thru it and as everyone says, slow down even tho I feel like I am hardly moving in the first place

[LimpParsnip]

Thank you for all the advice. It certainly helps. I've just finished week 6. I haven't ran for 25 minutes continuously since I was 18 (35 years ago) so I'm more than pleased with my progress. I've found that instead of counting the seconds to the next walking break or end of run I try 'zoning out' a bit and just keep plodding on, its amazing how much easier the longer runs are.I'm still sucking a vacuum and unable to contemplate that elusive ' conversational pace' but I don't find myself worrying about it now.