A question about correct breathing during running?

Question

I am curious how breathing using only your mouth is different from inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth (or the opposite).

Does it affect your preformance if you breath only through the mouth?

Answer 1

Runners breath through the mouth.  Yes, if you breath in through the nose and out through the mouth you will get less air so your performance will be worse. If you breath through the mouth you will get more air and run faster.

But really, if you start running, your body will do the right thing.  No one naturally breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth when running.  It just isn't effecient.

Answer 2

It helps alot more to breath through your mouth, since you can get more air. So it might affect your performance if you breath through your nose since you wont be getting as much air as you need. Thats what works for me, its different for everyone though. Try both out and see which one works the best for you. Good luck!!!

Answer 3

Breath through your nose and out your mouth... this will reduce side-stitches

Answer 4

i'm not sure which is correct.....but when i run i usually breath in my nose and out my mouth.

hope i sorta helped!

:)

Answer 5

I'm sorry to say this....but MOST of the answers before me are wrong.....I'm not trying to sound like a know-it-all.....but I have experience.....my personal trainer.....told me that you HAVE to breathe in your nose and out your mouth.......because that is the most efficient way to get the most oxygen into your body. Your muscles need oxygen to work the way they are supposed to, and when you breathe in your mouth you USUALLY are huffing and puffing......and you are NOT supposed to do that.......

You should breathe in your nose and out your mouth as S-L-O-W-L-Y as you can.......that makes sure your muscles get the oxygen they need. If you huff and puff, like your mind is telling you to, you will get tired easier and will get injured easier because you are depriving your muscles and lungs of oxygen.

And, YES it DOES affect your performance if you breathe in only through your mouth, but NOT in a Positive way.,,.,......it will make sure that you are at least 25% slower..........the same percent that your performance is affected if you are dehydrated......even if you are NOT...your breathing can do that.......

So MAKE SURE IN NOSE and OUT MOUTH

Good Luck in your running!

Answer 6

i breathe thru my mouth when i run. i use rythym breathing. 2 short ins, 2 short outs. i don't think it matters as long as you're getting air.

Answer 7

According to the first source article, you should only breathe through your nose.  Another advocates nose in/mouth out.

In my running and cycling, I've practiced more nose/mouth than nose-only or mouth-only breathing.  I only use mouth-only when I'm going flat out in the last quarter mile of a race.

EDIT:  I see this is one of those questions where we get into dogma rather than reason and data.