Breathing While running

MREGAN

Is there any right or wrong way? I have been reading that breathing techniques play a big part in a strong and comfortable run.

I have found myself taking in three short bursts through my nose then releasing one long breath as I run.

Any suggesstions or tips on best ways to breath or is it just a matter of what ever makes you comfortable?

Thanks in Advance.

RoyMcC

Personally I can't say that I've ever really considered it - I just sorta...breathe. If you practise relaxation in your running then your body will know best.

crosbie

As for 'normal' runs just try and relax and don't worry too much about it... these are essentially recovery/easy runs after all. When moving up a level the general test is to be able to maintain a conversation while running. Some days this can be harder than others. If you are really pushing it - say a threshold run or a less than 5mile race the thinking appears to be two count in to a one count out.:):)

Oryx

crosbie wrote: »

As for 'normal' runs just try and relax and don't worry too much about it... these are essentially recovery/easy runs after all. When moving up a level the general test is to be able to maintain a conversation while running. Some days this can be harder than others. If you are really pushing it - say a threshold run or a less than 5mile race the thinking appears to be two count in to a one count out.:):)

I do that triple breath thing automatically, its good to see it mentioned by someone else, I thought it was weird. But it seems to follow the rhythm of your pace somehow. Thats key for me, that my breath stays in pace with my feet.

And if you get a stitch, blow your breath out, hard, a few times. Stitch will go.

crosbie

Oryx wrote: »

I do that triple breath thing automatically, its good to see it mentioned by someone else, I thought it was weird. But it seems to follow the rhythm of your pace somehow. Thats key for me, that my breath stays in pace with my feet.

And if you get a stitch, blow your breath out, hard, a few times. Stitch will go.

Yeah now that I think of it the breathing does seem to fall in with footfall. Also it's much easier to do all of this is you run WITHOUT listening to music - listen to your body instead!!

eliwallach

If you can manage to breathe in and holdit for slightly longer than "normal" and then breathe out quickly, it will have positive effects ads regards oxygen absorption into the blood stream. The air you breathe in will be given extra time for the lungs to absorb more O2 than they would have "normally".
I try doing this as much as possible (or more honestly, when I think of it!:o) when out running but it ain't easy.

ChickenTikka

MREGAN wrote: »

I have found myself taking in three short bursts through my nose then releasing one long breath as I run.

This guy Joe Newton (US high school cross country coach)

[http://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Cross-Country-Successfully/dp/088011701X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233322313&sr=1-1]

had alot of good coaching advice in his book but I recall somewhere in it he was asked by one of his athletes regarding breathing and he said to breath through your nose and your mouth and if you can, to breath through your ears also!

I find myself breathing through both nose and mouth but most of the air going in via the mouth. I guess its the larger of the two so can get more in quickly :-)

The triple breathing you mention ... for me it seems to be a double breathing technique and also is in sync with my footsteps ... breathing in for 2 steps and out for 2 steps. Apparently there is some scientifc backup that suggests a rhythem with your footsteps is good as your diaphram is rising/falling on the same foot each time.

Check out this site also for some comments on breathing rhythm:-
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/economy.htm

liamo

My inhales and exhales usually start on my left foot and end on my right foot. That's four steps per breath.

When I pick up the pace and need to breath faster I inhale on my left foot and exhale on my right foot - two steps per breath.

Even if I'm all out sprinting at the end of a race my breathing still follows the inhale on the left and exhale on the right.

I don't know if that's the right way to do it, or if there is even a "right way". For me it's a comfortable and rythmic way to breathe.

MREGAN

I should mention I dont try and breathe a certain way or think about it to much. I seem to run comfortably but when I thought what way do I breathe this is just what I found. I dont purposely breathe three in 1 long out that is what happens automatically.

Why I mentioned it I heard a lot of people saying breathing is the most important thing you should do. Then it got me thinking am I doing it wrong/right.

I take from the above just relax do what comes natural and the main thing remember to breathe rather than gasp.

As for my other thread regarding stich I just recon I was pushing a first run back to much. Last night I done the same route same prep same scenario and I was fine. Now to keep at it and add a mile or two every week night run with a long weekend run.

robinph

I must have missed this lesson in running school.

I just tend to breathe and have never thought about it that much. Unless I start wheezing or something, but that just means I need to take some drugs to help with the asthma and probably take it a bit easier for a while.

911sc

Was just thinking about it this morning during a run.
The wind was so strong that i just had to open my month for it inflate my lungs!

I normally breathe in/out by the mouth. This morning, i was trying in by nose/out by mouth..but ended up in cardio zone 5 quickly.. so when back to my usual way and dropped back into zone 3.

I guess the "right" way is the way you are comfortable with. The less you think about it, the better, breathing being a reflex...unless you compete for pole position.