I Cannot Breathe

I am slowly but surely training to run a 5k. The last time I ran long distance was over 20 years ago in high school. It was 1990, and they called it cross country. I called it the bane of my existence. Oh the things you would do to look good in your coaches eye when it came to basketball season. The person I am today would have told the coach to take a flyin leap, but I digress.

My pace is getting better, but I am fatiguing way faster than I would like. I have concluded that it has to do with my breathing. I do not have a consistent pattern, and am not taking deep enough breaths.

Can I take a moment here to tell everyone how much I appreciate Google.

About a month ago I started doing a little research on what would be the best steps to take to train for a 5k. There was a plethora of information, and I concluded that I would take my husbands advice and just start to run. Each day I ran, my goal would be to run a little farther. So far so good. I should probably listen to Mr. Kell more often. Maybe……

This is where the breathing comes in. I noticed last night that I am breathing way to fast. I also noticed that my shoulders and arms were fatiguing quicker also.

When I got home from my run, I powered up my Toshiba and started searching “How to breathe while running.”

I found this article from Runners World.

Basically, I need to be breathing from my belly, and not my lungs. All the power of your breathing comes from your diaphragm. Your diaphragm must be strong. Breathing from your lungs can tire out your upper body from all the extra movement.

Sweet, but how do I strengthen my diaphragm? By reading this article.

So today, after I return from Ikea, I am going to start my Pilates exercises.

I am very excited to get this whole running thing started. It felt great to get outside and just go. Tonight, I think I am going to run without music. I actually find it distracting. It is so quiet at night, I think I will just listen to the silence, and my heavy panting, because I cannot breathe. Yet…

I think next time I will talk about the appropriate gear a runner should have.