Friday, May 31, 2013

Music while running and tempering your breathing

During my last running club meeting, we talked a little about breathing and running cadence. I've always found that I breathe best when I inhale for 3 steps and out for 3 steps on a long run during allergy season. For some reason, the extra exhale step just seems to prevent cramping for me. 

When I'm on a treadmill, I'm pretty good about being able to moderate my breathing, but when I get on the road sometimes I get distracted by my surroundings and have problems getting it correct. This was particularly evident during my most recent half marathon when my pace group took off a lot faster than I was hoping. I don't generally listen to music when I race, but I just couldn't get in the groove after the first water stop. I popped in an earbud (just one) and started the Nike+ app on my phone. I had put my music on shuffle and was pleasantly surprised when the first song was in a waltz time. Since then, I have taken my music off of shuffle and have Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick as one of the earlier songs I play to get myself back on track if I'm having trouble focusing on my breathing.

Do you have a song that helps you concentrate on a certain aspect of running?

2 comments:

  1. My breathing sucks. I always feel like I am sucking through a straw! I have had some issues of the winter and now I have an inhaler. :( I wish I could just breath nice an rythmically not like I am sprinting during a long run! Uggh. Any tips from your running group?

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    1. When we discussed breathing, the general belief is that breathing should follow your running cadence. Beginning runners should breathe in for 2 steps and out for 2 steps. More advanced runners should breathe in for 3 steps and out for 2 steps. I have found that the 3 and out for 3 works for me. Are you breathing through your mouth and nose? I would just get air in any way you can.

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