A Simple Tip for Running Faster for Longer Distances
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Mr. Science and I have been running every Monday and Thursday for the whole summer—and we fully intend to continue with this routine as winter approaches! Doing yoga*
The issue with Mr. Science and I running together is that we have extremely different running styles. I’m more of a jogger in my cute little Vibram FiveFingers*, whereas he’s a sprinter and all about the *real* running shoes.
We tried adjusting our running styles a bit to accommodate for each other, but earlier in the summer before I figured out how to run faster for longer distances, Mr. Sciences just ran laps around me when I went too slow (literally. It was awesome: I’m all out of breath and moving just slightly faster than the person walking on the other side of the street, and he’s happily sprinting around me, chatting the whole way as though he’s just out for a morning stroll. ♥).
My main problem with running is the breathing aspect. In general, my legs and core would be just fine running long distances, but my lungs have a tough time.
Still adore my Sears PureNRG workout clothes that I received for a product review back in January!
However, I think the yoga has really helped a lot with my learning how to breathe better… in addition to a new secret which I stumbled upon (ran into? Heehee, puns!) a couple months ago, which is such an awesomely simple tip for running faster for longer distances:
Increasing your pace slightly—enough to get your heart rate up, but not so fast that you can’t maintain the speed—will actually help your breathing to steady, slow, and deepen.
When I run at my *normal* jogging-style pace, I can’t quite match up my breathing with my stride. My breath comes out all ragged and my lungs feel like they’re bursting. However, when I increase my pace just a little bit, the distance (puns! Puns!) between my breathing and my stride decreases and they match up much more neatly.
And then—and here’s the best part!—when my breath and my stride are going along at the same pace, I can actually keep up my stride for a longer amount of time. I’m running faster and I’m also able to sustain it for a decent distance.
Tweet ThisI suspect that this is a big reason why I’ve had a love-hate relationship with running in the past. It’s challenging to really enjoy yourself when you’re huffing and puffing and your pace and breath are all off. When they are in sync, the whole run is just so much better.
It’s a simple little technique, but it’s not one that I’ve ever really come across before. There’s something satisfying in making these little discoveries as you go!
Am I way behind everyone else in making this discovery? Does your breath and stride naturally match up or do you have to consciously work toward it? What are your tips for running faster for longer distances? Share in the comments section below!
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A- Ruck funning!
B- What I learned far too late in life is that my lungs are smaller than average. I can do all kinds of things to increase my V02 uptake, but I will still be limited on capacity because of my genetic predisposition.
Why I think this is important, is because there are probably tens of millions of people like me who struggle with breathing when they run, despite that they are in excellent shape.
I have run marathons, and biked for 100 miles at a chop, but breathing will always come hard for me.
Just an FYI kinda thing — since we’re on the subject 😉
An EXCELLENT point – there are so many different ways to be in shape and running is definitely not the be-all end-all!
I’m more of a zumba person, but lately I am trying to jog. However, I normally have to stop every now and then because I feel out of breath. I’ll give your tips a go. Thanks a lot!
To the poster who was commenting about VO2max – I have taught advanced exercise physiology at the college level and always tell runners this important fact: Your VO2max, while limited genetically, is not necessarily the best indicator of performance. Rather, it’s how much of your VO2max you are able to use. This is where training of your metabolic components comes into play, along with nutrition. Please don’t despair if you have a low VO2max!
I know I’ve come to realize that running to slow for me causes it to feel harder than it should be. I’m thinking this is what my issue was! Thanks for sharing!!