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Learning to breathe properly on a run

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XENIA — Breathing is a very natural activity and so is getting out of breath when you run. When you run, you may get out of breath. This is normal. This is natural. Your body runs on oxygen, just as your automobile runs on gasoline. When you start to exercise—whether running, walking or any other physical activity—your muscles need more oxygen. The body meets this need by supplying oxygen-rich blood to the muscles. The lungs work harder to absorb this oxygen out of the air.

Without giving it much conscious thought, most runners breathe in a 2/2 rhythmic ratio. They take two steps as they inhale; they take two more steps as they exhale. While running very slowly, they often breathe in a 3/3 ratio. While running very fast, they might breathe 2/1, or 1/1, but 2/2 is much more common.

If you count breaths in and out and discover you are breathing with a different rhythm, don’t worry about it. Adjusting your breathing pattern will not make you a better runner. The same with whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth. Most runners naturally breathe through both. Famed New Zealand coach Arthur Lydiard, when asked how runners should breathe, once replied: “Breathe through your mouth. Breathe through your nose. Suck the air in through your ears, if you can.”

Your jaw should be relaxed, your mouth slightly open. The oxygen will come through your nose and mouth to your lungs, to your blood and to your muscles without you needing to give it a lot of thought. Breathing is a very natural activity—and so is getting out of breath when you run.

This Week’s 5K Training Tip — 5 Weeks from Race Day

You’re now five weeks from race day for the Spring Has Sprung Healthy Families 5K Run/Walk, April 1. During this week of training, your endurance and strength should be such that you can jog continuously for about 2 1⁄2 – 3 miles. On your chosen training days (3-5 days are recommended), always start with a brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then:

Day 1: Jog 1⁄2 mile (or 5 minutes); Walk 1⁄4 mile (or 3 minutes); Jog 3⁄4 mile (or 8 minutes).

Day 2: Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes); Walk 1⁄4 mile (or 3 minutes); Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes).

Day 3: Jog 2 1⁄4 miles (or 25 minutes with no walking); Walk 1⁄4 mile (or 3 minutes); Jog 1⁄2 mile (or 5 minutes).

To register for the April 1 Spring Has Sprung Healthy Families 5K Run/Walk at the Xenia YMCA go to www.speedy-feet.com or print and mail a registration form with your payment by visiting www.gcph.info. For more information or to sponsor this event call 937-374-5683 or email [email protected].

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Healthy Lifestyles Corner

Greene County News

Story courtesy of Greene County Public Health, adapted from www.runnersworld.com.