Just started running. Having a breathing problem

momofGD

I have just started running. Week one and two I was doing just fine. I do intervals of .08mi running then .04 walking and repeat. I am doing this for about 2 to 3 miles three days a week. I work out a total of six days a week. (My usual work out was 2.5 miles on the elliptical and weights.) Week three it was like I have never exercised a day in my life. I was practically gasping for air after running a few intervals. I do not have a cold...I am not sick. I am breathing fine normally. But when I was running (And I did not up the speed) it felt like my lungs were going to explode, almost like I couldn't exhale enough. Does anyone have any idea what might be going on? Or what I am doing wrong?

50racinggirl

I have just started running. Week one and two I was doing just fine. I do intervals of .08mi running then .04 walking and repeat. I am doing this for about 2 to 3 miles three days a week. I work out a total of six days a week. (My usual work out was 2.5 miles on the elliptical and weights.) Week three it was like I have never exercised a day in my life. I was practically gasping for air after running a few intervals. I do not have a cold...I am not sick. I am breathing fine normally. But when I was running (And I did not up the speed) it felt like my lungs were going to explode, almost like I couldn't exhale enough. Does anyone have any idea what might be going on? Or what I am doing wrong?

This happens to me as well. I just work through it and over time my breathing returns to normal. It is almost like my lungs are getting in shape, too!

alikonda

I'd recommend slowing down (let your body acclimate, first!) because running does require very different breathing patterns than biking/elliptical/swimming/etc. Also, you can try breathing to a pattern - I will often breathe in and out in multiple intervals (2 in, 3 out) as if I was doing a lamaze exercise. When I'm getting tired, I feel like these patterns help me stay consistent and it eliminates the "I am not exhaling enough" feeling.

omma_to_3

Could be a couple of things. You could be going faster even without realizing it - unless you are monitoring with a GPS device? I personally am not good at judging my speed without my GPS. Or, has it gotten colder this week? Cold air can cause people problems if you're running outside. Other idea is that it was just a bad run. It happens to all go us!

mockchoc

Probably going faster than you realise. Try slowing it down.

GadgetGuy2

Rule out bad air quality. Ozone and particulates affect some people (e.g. asthmatics) more than others.

_Zardoz_

Run slower.

CarmineDeMarco

Sounds like you need to slow down. You might consider starting out by walking for 15-20 minutes, then over time upping that to 30 minutes, then gradually working in running segments of increasingly greater proportions over a period of weeks (run 2 min/walk 4 min....run 3/walk 3....run 4/walk2, etc.). Best of luck!

FindingAmy77

when I first started running, I had breathing issues and bad cramps on the my side where my rib cage is. I found that if you make sure you do the breathing through your nose and really focus on keeping it under control.. then its a lot better. You will get stronger and be able to breathe and run better the more you do it. just hang in there.

meshashesha2012

in addition to the other suggestions you also want to make sure you are breathing through your diaphragm and not just shallow breaths
http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/lung-power?page=single

momofGD

Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

Drea702

I have this exact same issue, I have noticed that is comes and goes. Some days I can run forever...other days a run a few feet and cannot breath.

Augusttina0923

Possibly air quality, maybe the mold spores and allergens outside were particularly high that day. Just a thought