How long until "runner's mouth" goes away during cardio?

[Sukhoi]

I had to get a body composition assessment to sign up at a gym a couple of weeks ago, and I just noticed I'm actually in the 90th percentile for aerobic exercise (VO2 max, etc.). I'm not sure if that's just at their facility or for all people, but either way it isn't bad. Especially considering I do no cardio whatsoever. My lungs seem to be rather efficient. Right now I'm bulking up but by March or April it's going to be time for some running.

In the past whenever I have run I have had terrible problems with the back of my mouth and throat getting very irritated and painful from the volume of air intake. That's really the thing that limits me, not my muscles and such. When I start doing consistant cardio how long should it reasonably take for this problem to go away? Or is it just a constant thing runners deal with? I bike a fair amount but it's never a problem for me then because I always have something to drink with me.

 

[tweakmm]

That is a very good question.
I'm actually going to do something simmilar, I go to the gym a few times weekly and plan to bulk up until March and then hit the cardio majorly to drop my body fat%.

I do get a similar necesary thirst when I do cardio but I always assumed it was my body needing water and I always had I a nice bottle to hydrate myself constantly, so I didn't really think about it.

I drink about a gallon and a half of water daily so I always assumed my body was used to increased water intake and needed such.

 

[lyssword]

maybe you are being too intense, try increasing ur running dosage little by little.

 

[Rastus]

You have to experiment with your liquid intake. I've found that I have to keep myself well hydrated with water all the time (not just when I'm exercising) to prevent that.

Nothing else works but water for me. No sports drinks. Hence, I have a large container of water on hand at all times.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: Rastus
Nothing else works but water for me. No sports drinks. Hence, I have a large container of water on hand at all times.

Yup. I've got a half gallon glass pitcher that a fill a few times daily with pure RO water.


Soooooo goood.

 

[Strk]

Drink a lot more water when exercising. It sounds like you're mostly breathing through your mouth and it's drying out.

 

[johnjbruin]

aren't you supposed to be breathng with your nose when doing cardio?

 

[tfinch2]

In through the nose, out the mouth.

 

[FelixDeCat]

I hate running. I hate getting those horrible chest cramps and sore throat on a cold day.

It bears repeating: I hate running.

 

[radioouman]

Took me a couple nice sore throats to get over that. Now I don't have any trouble.

 

[SWScorch]

Is this when you're exercising indoors, outdoors, or both? If it's indoors, the same thing happens to me just because air inside is so dry. Racing a 5k in indoor track was hell. I found that chewing gum or sucking on a piece of hard candy produced enough saliva to coat my throat and keep it from feeling abraded. Also, you may be dehydrated; drink as much water as you can.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Rastus
You have to experiment with your liquid intake. I've found that I have to keep myself well hydrated with water all the time (not just when I'm exercising) to prevent that.

Nothing else works but water for me. No sports drinks. Hence, I have a large container of water on hand at all times.

Same here, you should be drinking a lot of water, especially for intense cardio workouts. To me, it sounds like the back of your throat is drying out from the air constantly moving through it and not enough water in your body.

When I'm out running, I'll usually get some serious dry mouth in the dry winter months, but it almost always fades after the first few miles. Not really sure why the dry mouth is only during the first couple of miles, but meh.

 

[Sukhoi]

It definitely happens indoors. I haven't gone running outdoors in a while and I don't remember if it happened then or not.

I do drink a decent amount of water. On a regular workday I will have gone through about 3/4 gallon of water by the end of my after work workout. I will likely be doing the cardio after drinking a quart of water during a lifting session, so maybe that will help out.

As for the ratio between nose/mouth breathing, I do both. And it still hurts when I breathe through my nose. The pain is pretty much right at the junction in the throat where the nose and mouth meet.

Same here, you should be drinking a lot of water, especially for intense cardio workouts.

I'm going to try that, but I'd like to be one of the people that isn't drinking water like it's the Sahara Desert when jogging.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

Same here, you should be drinking a lot of water, especially for intense cardio workouts.

I'm going to try that, but I'd like to be one of the people that isn't drinking water like it's the Sahara Desert when jogging.

Hydrate heavily in the days and hours leading up to the run, hit the toilet prior to the run, and you should be good. Unless you're running some longer distances.

 

[SWScorch]

Also, the advice that you always hear to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth isn't very helpful. Most runners breathe in through the nose and mouth. If you just inhale through your nose, your breaths might take longer and slow your rate of breathing. Most coaches today just recommend to not even think about breathing and just let it come natural.

And, you don't have to drink while you're running. I never ever drink on a run, unless I'm racing 10 mile or longer and it's a hot day. I've gone on 2 hour runs and won't drink a thing. If you're well hydrated before running, you should be set for an hour or so, unless it's hot and you're a very heavy sweater.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: Rastus
You have to experiment with your liquid intake. I've found that I have to keep myself well hydrated with water all the time (not just when I'm exercising) to prevent that.

Nothing else works but water for me. No sports drinks. Hence, I have a large container of water on hand at all times.

Same here, you should be drinking a lot of water, especially for intense cardio workouts. To me, it sounds like the back of your throat is drying out from the air constantly moving through it and not enough water in your body.

When I'm out running, I'll usually get some serious dry mouth in the dry winter months, but it almost always fades after the first few miles. Not really sure why the dry mouth is only during the first couple of miles, but meh.

Water during cardio is bad though, unless you take breaks in between..but if you're running for 30-40 minutes straight, only use the water to rinse out your mouth but avoid swallowing.

 

[irishScott]

Try Rowing. Best of Both Worlds.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: irishScott
Try Rowing. Best of Both Worlds.

Just dive in for a drink when I get tired? :laugh: