How do you talk with ease while running long distances?

Question

Someone told me that if I can't talk without feeling out of breath, then I'm not breathing properly. How can someone do this easily?

Answer 1

There are two sides to the coin. You must be running slow enough so that you can talk. If you are running hard then you are not getting enough air to be able to talk comfortably.

To breath take in deep, full breaths, don't gasp or pant and don't worry about whether you breath in your nose or mouth or both.

People who say you should only breath in the nose and out the mouth either have never run fast, or certainly don't have sinus or allergy problems.

Relax, run easy, so that you can talk, if you are laboring then you are not running comfortably.

Answer 2

It is your problem.

Answer 3

You will not be able to talk while running if you are working hard.  Many people say you're going too hard if you can't talk, but that is mostly for people concerned with recreational running, not dedicated runners.

However, there is a correct way to breathe and this will help you become less tired and perhaps be able to talk while running at your current pace.

You need to breathe with your stomach, not your chest.  When you breathe with your chest you are only getting about 2/3 as much oxygen as you can.  Learning to breathe with your stomach can take a lot of practice, but it's worth it.  It will make you healthier overall.

You need to practice often.  A good time is if you're trying to fall asleep or just bored.  Place a hand on your stomach and the other on your chest.  Take deep, slow breaths.  Your chest should not rise AT ALL.  If it is, you're doing it wrong.  Once you've practiced and gotten used to using your stomach to breathe, you won't need your hands on your stomach and chest anymore, just try to focus on breathing with your stomach.  Keep practicing and it will become natural.  

PS:  Do not try and work on this while running.  You need to concentrate on running, not breathing.  If you keep practicing then it will become your natural way of breathing and you won't have to think about it.

Answer 4

Basically you won't be able to talk until you build your endurance and breathing capacity up. You can always slow down and run, but I personally wouldn't sacrifice my running for talking. You can start by just talking a little and then stopping when you're out of breath and then talking again when you catch your breath. This will help your body get used to you talking little by little.