What's your breathing pattern for running?

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  • bttrthanevr
    bttrthanevr Posts: 615 Member
    I'm a total mouth breather. I think I breathe... in-in-in, out-out. Then on hills I think its more in-in, out. Or in-out in-out. Sometimes I blow out more forcefully than in. I have noticed that I breathe in on alternating feet. But it isn't a conscious effort.
    I kind of sigh somewhere in the beginning third of my run and then it seems like everything settles in and hums along. Maybe if I could control it better, that smooth running feeling would happen sooner.
  • jessiekanga
    jessiekanga Posts: 564 Member
    I am also a profound mouth breather. Part of that is that my nose, structurally, cannot take in enough air for me. Part of that is just wanting to gulp as much air as possible. I've also been a master "hyperventilator" since childhood, and so never thought I'd be able to pull off running. When I discovered the longer in breath, it truly transformed my capacity to run. I went from hyperventilating through my barely 5k, to now being able to (not easily but without hyperventilating or panic) run 6 miles. I didn't learn it through Running on Air, but I'm sure it's somehow to be credited for how I learned about it. For me, it took a lot of practice to move towards the longer in breath, but it's been a game changer.
  • nobleammonite
    nobleammonite Posts: 64 Member
    I can't say - the minute I try to focus on my breathing, it goes completely out of whack. then I spend the rest of the run trying to get it regulated again. I also can not seem to get the breathing in through the nose. I'm a total mouth breather on the treadmill - in and out. Good thing I'm in the privacy of my own home. I've just recently started back at it so I'm hoping I can figure out how to regulate things better as my body becomes more accustomed to running.

    Ooooh me too me too, except I run outside! Mouth-breather all the way. I HAVE swallowed (or at least caught in my throat) bugs. Yuck. But if I try to breathe through my nose it's an absolute disaster.

    Except... I have found that it helps me to take a few deeeeeeep breaths through my nose when I'm going up a hill. Not too many or I'll pass out, but one every once in a while seems to steady my breathing and keep me from gasping. It sounds backwards but it works for me.
  • hzliiz
    hzliiz Posts: 166 Member
    I've tried to use those kinds of breathing patterns b/c I get wicked side stitches and everyone says it's a breathing thing that causes them, but I just can't seem to do it. Then by the time I'm hurting I'm usually doing a sort of pitiful "gasp-gasp-pant-wheeze-moan" thing. I have however recently started chewing gum b/c someone told me that can help prevent side stitches. I thought it sounded ridiculous but I finally tried it out of desperation and now I hardly get them. No idea why or how it helps, maybe it's a placebo -- couldn't care less as long as I have less cramps when I run.
  • bttrthanevr
    bttrthanevr Posts: 615 Member
    I think I would totally choke myself if I tried to chew gum and run at the same time,LOL! But glad that you found something that works. The root of my stitches was eating a meal within an hour or so of running. I can have a light snack a 1/2 hour before but I try not to eat a full meal unless I have two or more hours before my run.

    And, nobleammomite, I have considered logging the calories of the bugs I have eaten, but more experienced friends informed me that they are calorie free.

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