Need help with breathing

[angelmark]

Graduated a couple of weeks ago but can not get my breathing right so that to be honest I am not enjoying it at all. I just can not make Laura's technique of breathing in and out work. Are there any techniques out there to help me with this?

[CaroleC Graduate]

angelmark,

Do NOT worry about trying to breathe to Laura's technique, it doesn't work for everyone. Try breathing as it comes naturally to you, through your mouth if need be (as lots of us do) and don't stress over it. I have never been able to breathe as Laura advises and I've been running for eight months and about to do my first half marathon in two weeks. Did a ten mile training run yesterday and I breathe anyway I need to to get the oxygen in.

Continually concentrating on trying to breathe a certain way is bound to affect your enjoyment so leave it for now, get out and enjoy your running and good luck!

CaroleC

[sfb350 Graduate]

I gave up trying to concentrate on breathing technique too - I've had sinus trouble since before starting the program so just breathe as best I can. I think I had a few runs where I counted 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 in my head which may have helped me get a steady rhythm but it wasn't a conscious plan. I do find her breathing advice for running through a stitch helps though.

[Jenbie Graduate]

I also haven't paid any attention to the breathing advice. To be honest, I have taken all the podcast advice with a pinch of salt after getting injured as soon as I tried to run with my heel hitting the ground first, as advised in week 2. I immediately damaged my knees, could hardly walk, and was out for 3 weeks. After checking with some experienced runners, I discovered that heel-first running is only a good idea if that is how you naturally run (as it is for my husband) - otherwise, it will increase your chance of injury! Since I recovered and got back out there, I have just run naturally and have had no further problems. As such, I've never paid much attention to the breathing instructions, but nose-breathing didn't work for me, as I started in cold weather, and it just made my nose burn. I have just breathed through my mouth and found it fine. I do find, though, that if I concentrate too much on my breathing it gets irregular, so my best advice is to try and ignore your breathing and just breathe as naturally as possible. Distract yourself with music or your pace. If you get a stitch, you sometimes need to focus on it to get rid of it, but otherwise I try to think of other things!

[juicydee Graduate]

I don't think much about my breathing until I'm really pushing the pace (as I was with the new pilot podcast) - then I find I can only breathe in a 'in-2-3, out-2-3' rhythm which is kinda awkward, especially if Ive got 4:4 music playing in my ear! I really wouldn't worry - so long as you DO keep breathing!!

[Greg_M Graduate]

I never even tried that breathing method (well maybe once). I just can't seem to get enough oxygen up my nostrils so breathe completely through my mouth when running.

I can't say what rhythm it is I just sort of let it look after itself. I haven't passed out yet.

[didntrunthat Graduate]

Your body will always naturally take in the correct amount of oxygen you need, even when running, so just go with what is natural to you. I can only run breathing in through my nose when I'm running VERY slow. When I'm going at my normal pace I breath through my mouth and try not to think about it.

I was a bit over concious about it at the beginning of C25K so made the decision to turn up the music louder so I couldn't hear myself breath and just forget about it!