breathing techniques

[Sheeps123]

I am on week 5 couch25k are there any breathing techniques I can use, even though it’s better than week 1

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Go slower! That’s honestly the best thing you can do to breathe comfortably. I’ve never got on with doing anything different compared with what my body naturally does.

Edit…sorry I didn’t spot you were new here. I would have said welcome and well done for getting to week 5. That’s a huge achievement!

There’s a brilliant little guide to the programme here with lots of helpful hints and tips.  Well worth a read.  Most important is keeping it slow and steady at a pace where you can talk in full sentences without gasping.  Most of us go too fast!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

[Sheeps123 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

thanks for the reply and runs are getting easier!

[Yesletsgo Graduate]

Well done for getting to week 5! More than half way there 😁Slowing down will help, the other thing that I find helpful is counting my breath. As I start to run and my feet find their rhythm I'll count and breathe in for 4 steps then put for 4 steps, and repeat until it feels natural and I can stop counting. Being aware of your breath helps focus you.

If I'm getting tired I concentrate on forcefully breathing out, and visualise clearing the carbon dioxide from my hard working cells. Breathing in takes care of itself. This will also help prevent cramps.

You've got this, after all, you've managed so far to breathe every day of your life 😁

[Sheeps123 in reply to Yesletsgo]

thanks for your reply I am finding week 5 better than week 4 lol

[445600 Graduate]

Hi I had exactly the same problem . The best advice I could give you is to totally slow down. Eventually you get your breath back. What I do now is run easy for the first ten mins and I find I naturally speed up that will help you especially on run 3 week 5. 🏃‍♀️😄👍🏻

[Sheeps123 in reply to 445600]

thanks I completed the day 3 week 5 today and thought after 10 minutes I was ready to give up but carried on and tried not to think about the breathing. So pleased I done it though and think I will run this one again on Thursday before I do week 6 on Saturday 😃

[445600 Graduate]

I was well happy when I completed that week I will tell you I was dreading it !!😃🤣 keep going the achievements are brilliant I’ve never been a runner but now I run 3 times a week my goal is to run through winter 🤞