Just started running. Having a breathing problem

momofGD
momofGD Posts: 110 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
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?

Replies

  • 50racinggirl
    50racinggirl Posts: 96 Member
    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
    alikonda Posts: 2,358 Member
    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
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    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
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Probably going faster than you realise. Try slowing it down.
  • GadgetGuy2
    GadgetGuy2 Posts: 291 Member
    Rule out bad air quality. Ozone and particulates affect some people (e.g. asthmatics) more than others.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    Run slower.
  • CarmineDeMarco
    CarmineDeMarco Posts: 39 Member
    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
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    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
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    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
    momofGD Posts: 110 Member
    Thank you everyone for your suggestions!
  • Drea702
    Drea702 Posts: 17 Member
    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
    Augusttina0923 Posts: 1 Member
    Possibly air quality, maybe the mold spores and allergens outside were particularly high that day. Just a thought :)

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