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Why am I running out of breath whenever I jog?

A

Argo

Lifer
I'm not overweight or anything - I'm 6'0", only 183 lbs at 14% fat level. However, if I run for a mile I start breathing so heavy that I think my lungs are going to explode. I don't smoke either. Any ideas?
 


<< You don't have to be overweight to be out of shape. 😉 >>



Yup. I should know. 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
 
You're not in aerobic shape. You are using oxygen faster than your body can bring it in and distribute it around. It takes a few weeks to realize the benefits of a workout (increased capilarization, etc) so be patient and stick with it. Run a little slower, mix in some walking here and there so you can at least keep your total workout time reasonable (say 30 min for starters) and go from there.

Fausto
 
You'll gain range with practice. Go as far as you can, then gradually keep extending your distance. 🙂
 
Your cardiovascular system needs to be beefed up. That and your VO2 max is probably pretty poor if you don't do cardiovascular exercise regularly.
 
Well - that's the thing - I am in shape, or at least i think so. I work out every day for the past 2 years. I can bench 200+ lbs and play basketball every other day. But for some reason when it comes to running my lungs give up.
 


<< Well - that's the thing - I am in shape, or at least i think so. I work out every day for the past 2 years. I can bench 200+ lbs and play basketball every other day. But for some reason when it comes to running my lungs give up. >>


First of all, lifting weights does jack squat for your level of aerobic fitness. Lifting is almost totally anaerobic.

Secondly, basketball is a lot of stop/start scooting around which will certainly be of benefit to you aerobically, but not the same as steady-state running. Once you run for several minutes continuously, you create a new "burn rate" that your body has to try to keep up with as you go since there is no period of recovery (as in b-ball while at the foul line). If you're not adapted to do this, you'll run out of breath (literally actually😉)

Like I said, go slow and stick with it and you'll adapt. It'll also help your b-ball since your recovery between spurts of running will be much quicker thanks to your new-found level of aerobic fitness.🙂

Fausto
 


<< Well - that's the thing - I am in shape, or at least i think so. I work out every day for the past 2 years. I can bench 200+ lbs and play basketball every other day. But for some reason when it comes to running my lungs give up. >>

You do stregnth workouts a lot, but that doesn't help with running. When was the last time you went for a run on a regular basis?

ALso do you smoke?
 
You can build up the cardio REALLY fast though. When I started rowing, running 5 km was pretty rough for me, but after a month of training (rowing 10 km a day and running almost the same), I was able to do a 10 km row, and then do a 10 km run at a faster pace than I originally ran the 5 km at, be joking and laughing the entire time with my crew, finish, and be breathing perfectly normally. Heck, back then, I could probably do 25 km without breathing very heavily at all, and do it at a pretty decent pace too.

I haven't run in a while, nor have I rowed, but I'm gonna start back up this week. I hope my scores don't embarrass me too much as you seem to lose it twice as fast as you can gain it 🙂
 
silverpig is right - at least initially you can raise your cardio abilities insanely fast. Muscle takes a damn long time to build but take me for instance: If I haven't run or done real aerobic exercise in a few months a 20 min run is darn hard. If I then run 5 times a week after about two weeks I can do a 30 min run easier than the 20 min run the first time.
 
You just need to expand your lung capacity by running more frequently. I have the lung capacity of a 5 year old myself 🙁 so I've started taking up jogging again
 
The funny thing is that my muscles aren't even the slightest bit tired. If not for my lungs I could probably go for another 2 or 3 miles.
 


<< The funny thing is that my muscles aren't even the slightest bit tired. If not for my lungs I could probably go for another 2 or 3 miles. >>



Exactly, that's because aerobic fitness is very different than muscular fitness. The comments given here are all great. One thing to remember though is that pushing too hard in an aerobic workout can quickly put you over the hump into anaerobic territory which is counter-productive. That means you need to start out at a pace that lets you talk without gasping while running. Then build up to running longer and faster.
 
id say consistent breathing technique is also helps... at least for me.. i need to keep a certain rhytme or else i'll get out of breath faster..
 


<< I'm not overweight or anything - I'm 6'0", only 183 lbs at 14% fat level. However, if I run for a mile I start breathing so heavy that I think my lungs are going to explode. I don't smoke either. Any ideas? >>







How is it that you know what your fat level is but you don't realize that lifting weights wouldn't help your cardio for running?
 
ot, but what's the cheapest way to find out your body fat percentage? is getting one of those expensive weight scales where you have to go barefoot the way to go?
 
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