Breathing...how do you do it!!! (Read 1217 times)

Since I started running recently, I have always breathed through my mouth.  I just did what came naturally and didn't think too much about it.  Then, while browsing Youtube, I came across some athletics chap telling me I should breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.

Then I saw this tip repeated on a website that recommended this method particularly for cold weather.

So I tried it.  It did not seem comfortable at first as I felt that I couldn't inhale as much air as I could through my mouth.  Also, at first, it seemed like my airways breathing through my mouth were a lot clearer and it was actually easier to breathe this way. 

Then, as I was thinking about this or that in my own little world, I realised that I had been breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, or even out through my nose and mouth and that I had been doing this for some time.  It came to feel more natural and at the end of my run, I felt like my breathing was almost as relaxed as when I am normally walking, or doing not much at all (this was my easy run and pace was slow 9.20 secs / mile and we're only talking 5 and a bit miles later).

Also, I found that the tickly cough I usually got for a while after running in the cold (between 6/7 am) was not there.  The cold air hadn't bothered my throat in the same way.

I think I might try and stick with this.  It will be good to see if I can use the same technique on my fast(er) run. 

I was wondering, is there a standard breathing technique that 90% of runners use?  What do you do?  What do the pro's do?

Cheers.

MTA: spelling

 I just did what came naturally and didn't think too much about it. 

You answered your own question.

You are thinking about this way too much.

Just breathe.

MTA: What Nate said.

There's me thinking that I had made a small breakthrough!  Maybe I was just feeling particularly good that day and attributed it to the new technique I was trying. 

I'm fairly sure it helped lessen the irritation to my throat from the cold air, though.  I will try again for the sake of consistency, I suppose.   Of course, I may not see any of the same results.

Cheers

MTA:  typing without looking = spelling mistakes.

There's me thinking that I had made a small breakthrough!  Maybe I was just feeling particularly good that day and attributed it to the new technique I was trying. 

 

I'm fairly sure it helped lessen the irritation to my throat from the cold air, though.  I will try again for the sake of consistency, I suppose.   Of course, I may not see any of the same results.

 

Cheers

 

MTA:  typing without looking = spelling mistakes.

I think you did make a small breakthrough.  That cough you describe sounds like an asthmatic cough brought on by the cold air.  I get this too.  Your nose is much better equipped at warming and humidifying the air which in turn prevents some irritation in your lungs.   

Interesting NYT article on the subject

Chris

I came across some athletics chap telling me I should breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.

 

Then I saw this tip repeated on a website that recommended this method particularly for cold weather.

 

 

 
Others have told you not to over think it, and I agree.  But...

If you can breathe in only through your nose while running your normal training pace...speed up.

I want you to breathe through your eyelids, like the Lava Lizards of the Galapagos Islands.

Yeah right, try throwing a fastball using that technique.

I want you to breathe through your eyelids, like the Lava Lizards of the Galapagos Islands.

 I thought they were just spewing out salt when they did that. Sort of like having kidneys in your head. But not really. Oh, and some birds do that, too. But they have extra nostrils for that. Oh hell, just ignore me.

MTA: um, nothing.