Little Miss Runner Pants

DATE: 6:24 PM
I think you have the right of it. Maybe. I wouldn't listen to me if I were you...but your theory sounds quite reasonable. Maybe you're breaking through a plateau you didn't even know you were up against...? See how you do over the next week or so and if your breathing doesn't improve at all...k, you know what, I'm gonna stop talking cuz I have a feeling someone more knowledged in the ways of running might have some good advice for you.I'll just send you good-breathing vibes.

DATE: 7:09 PM
Look at this for info on heart rate monitors.http://everymantriathlon.blogs.com/everyman_triathlon/2005/12/coaches_corner_.html

DATE: 6:36 PM
You might try running with a heart rate monitor.

DATE: 7:41 PM
Ok, so late on all your posts here but Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, Congrats on your award, Yea for another marathon, and WTF you CAN'T BREATHE?!OK, I have heard of that exact thing you describe. Where the heck did I read that? Was it Richard's site? Runner's World? I can't remember. Legs feel great but your lungs can't get enough air. Its actually your legs that are working overtime, your lungs are fine. The legs are going faster than usual and working harder than normal and your lungs just can't catch up to them. Well, ok, that sounds like the lungs are in trouble, but they aren't. Keep at it, and everything will get in synch again. Rest if you need to. You are doing just fine. :)

DATE: 9:32 PM
oh yah, you're definitely a regular sherlock holmes... *shock* *horror*!if Watson can interrupt, sometimes i can start just too fast out of the gate when running on the tarmac.when, i'm on a treadmill, it's level 3, then 4, the 5, then 6... breathing follows right along... on the pavement, i can go level 8 right out of the blocks and then struggle to catch my breath for like the WHOLE run...tends to happen to people in organized races too, where they place themselves at the start with all the gazelles, by the first turn they've been sprintin' sub 6 and are in trouble.somethin' to try anyway, walk, walk faster, catch your breath, and then jog... or, bust out of the gate for 5, then stretch, and resume your job at desired pace.your mileage may vary

DATE: 6:35 AM
Unless you're physically wheezing (as an asthmatic I know all about that), it sounds like you are just getting your heart rate up a little too high. I would suggest wearing a heart-rate monitor and try keeping your HR around 150 BPM unless you're doing interval training or something, when you're not SUPPOSED to breathe. Just remember to try to calm down and not think about it -- because when you concentrate too much on your breathing, it may cause you to hyperventilate and feel like you're not getting enough air.Alison

DATE: 8:44 AM
I remember reading an article about this too, and it said that basically your lungs are not as strong as your legs. I looked but I couldn't find the article, it was in runner's world a while ago. I guess I'm sort of a running purist, so I don't really put much stock in gadgets like heart rate monitors and the like.(I don't even like running with a watch.) There was another article I read that said in order to strengthen your lung muscles, try breathing through a straw(not while running, because that would cause the whole passing out/death/bad day thing) It said to do it while watching Tv or something and it help to build lung strength because you are taking air in through a much smaller space so the lungs have to work harder. Or you could just keep running until you don't have that problem any more...

DATE: 2:02 PM
We tend to hear the "Oh my gosh I'm going blazing fast" stories, and fewer of the "Whoa, super turtle time" stories.Keep in mind that speed sessions should only be once a week. Generally the day before your long run during a medium long run. And then only for a portion of it. If you want to go all out for an entire run, pick a short one. It should only be about 30 minutes.And you are right. As you run more, you'll find yourself struggling to keep your pace down. That's why you have to set and keep a target pace while training. Otherwise, you'll go anaerobic too often.Of course, keep in mind that I am the king of training and running races at too fast a pace.

DATE: 1:12 PM
ugh. totally sounds familiar.

DATE: 8:04 PM
Is it cold outside? Your lungs way not be used to the cold air. Try slowing down a bit until you feel comfy and then pick up the pace. And don't stress about it too much, your mojo will be back before you know it!

DATE: 12:19 PM
I think you hit the nail on the head. You're legs want to go faster but the lungs just haven't caught up yet. That's no problema... For the mean time, just ease back when you notice the near deathness... See if it gets better. Then, to keep your speediness, add in some sprints near the end of your run. You'll notice soon that things are beginning to match up. I wish I had it that way... I'm the opposite. My breathing is great, but my legs start complaining. :)Anyway! Good on you for getting speedy! Woo hoooooooo

DATE: 5:25 AM
Another consideration is how recently and what you ate before you run. Because digestion diverts blood and therefore oxygen to the gut, it can make for strange breathing if you are still digesting when you run-that coupled a faster pace, makes for labored breathing.Nice run though.

DATE: 3:00 PM
You might want to consider a coach. If you're going to put in the effort to train for a marathon, you should maximize your effort. Plus, a coach can explain what's going on. I've run for 28 years and I have a coach. Also, a heart rate monitor is a good idea. The Polar S120 will do all you need and it's under $100. A coach can explain how to use it.

DATE: 7:19 AM
breathing is a good thing.

DATE: 8:50 PM
ah very interesting. thanks for this post. i experienced this in my recent run as well as other recent runs. i think it can't always be that i'm going too fast cause i'm not always. but those other reasons could be the cause...thanks posters! (and amaria of course) ;-)

DATE: 12:31 PM
Well, Miss Comment Queen, I like the recent change in your photo, cute dress. I think I'd prefer a full face shot, but it didn't look like you had a usable one. I suppose you'd have no use for this.

DATE: 8:58 AM
AJ, it's official. I signed up for a triathlon. The money's on the table, so now there's no turning back.

DATE: 12:40 PM
Chica, slow it down a bit. Are you doing speed workouts? Tempos? Save the heat for those days - you're not SUPPOSED to be able to breathe then, lol! Don't worry about overall pace time now, either, those speed workouts will make the long slower runs faster when you're not looking ;)

DATE: 8:38 PM
(god, it's hard to keep track of all this advice!!) You are running fast. I think that makes you breathe harder. (There might be just one little other thing that i'm not even going to mention here going on...)GREAT RUN!!!!

DATE: 6:54 PM
oh yes, she can!

DATE: 6:54 PM
so this is a test. this is only a test.

DATE: 11:32 AM
Hello A. Maria a very beautiful greeting your blog, pardons my ingles is very bad.

DATE: 9:29 AM
Do you want the junior-level Exercise Science student explanation? If not, stop reading now.Ya see, all the training you did before caused a stress to the skeletal muscle in your legs. During this "rest" you've been doing, your skeleton musc has been adapting by creating more mitochondria to power your endurance work. So now your legs are all healed up and full o' mitochondria and EFFICIENT enough to go FASTER with less O2... but your lungs might not be ready to keep up yet... so, if you can't breathe... slow it down baby! :)