how to breathe

[janey_826]

I think Latebloomer might be right about the warming up helping. When I start out too fast it sometimes feels like there is something in my throat clogging my airway. If I take the time to warm up I only get that clogging feeling if I am REALLY pushing it and breathing very hard. When I asked my doctor about this she said I may be experiencing be something called "Vocal cord spasms" and gave me an inhaler to use before a ride. The inhaler only seemed to push my heart rate so high that I can't work hard enough to cause the problem so I think I will stick with a warm-up.

[li10up]

As for the runny nose, tissues up your jersey sleeve, down your bra, and in your pockets.

I tissue stored anywhere on my body, even in a jersey pocket will disintegrate due to the massive amounts of sweat my body produces. I had a map of our route in my jersey pocket once and at the end of the ride it was this mushy ink smeared glob.

Also when clearing the nose, be sure to blow hard or it will just end up on your face...yuk!

[crazybikinchic]

I have to say, if someone you don't like is behind you, it might be fun to blow it their direction

Thanks for the laugh

[sprout]

I have to say, if someone you don't like is behind you, it might be fun to blow it their direction

Thanks for the laugh

A cruel and unusual coworker of mine who was riding with me a few weeks back managed to hit me with one of his phlem balls. My reaction? "EEWW!! Get it OFF!!! OFF!" He claims he didn't do it on purpose, but I know him too well!

[Cari]

My nose gets runny too sometimes, especially when I ride at night. I carry one or two squares of Bounty paper towels. Even if they get moist from the sweat coming through my jersey, they won't fall apart.

For keeping my mouth from getting dry, I chew gum. Just having something inside your mouth makes you produce more saliva. Plus the gum encourages me to keep my mouth closed and breathe through my nose. Occasionally I'll breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, but for the most part I try to keep my mouth closed.

As for losing your breath: try to control your breathing! I know it will seem impossible as you're gasping for air, but just try it. It's *much* more effective (in terms of getting oxygen into your lungs and blood, and getting carbon dioxide out) to take slower, deep breaths than to take quick shallow breaths. The same exact volume of air, taken in deep breaths, will deliver more oxygen to your lungs than if you took it in a greater number of shallow breaths. Also be sure to exhale deeply, because it's the accumulation of CO2 (carbon dioxide) in your blood (not just the lack of oxygen) that will make you panic and breathe faster than you really need to.

Another thing that's helped me a *lot* is to plan ahead. If you see a hill coming up, try to relax and take lots of really deep breaths in preparation for the climb. When I started using a heart rate monitor, I noticed that my heart rate would start to go up even before I got to the hill, probably because I was nervously anticipating the climb. Now I just breathe deeply and stay relaxed so that I'm well oxygenated and ready to attack it.

I hope some of this helps!

~Cari

[arreyonskyy]

the gum thing is a good idea, ive never thought about it. control the dry mouth and keep the bugs out at the same time.

[armanns]

It's not your breathing technique that's the issue. Take more breaks as you ride! Your lungs are already running full speed to keep up with your muscle effort!

Ride a little slower if you don't feel like stopping, but take a "break" of some sort. When I get beyond my lungs' ability, I get off the bike and walk a bit. My lungs get stronger as I get stronger, and I need fewer breaks as I go on.

I am no expert, but I do have asthma and allergies. A seasoned rider once told me as I was struggeling up a long grade "click it down and enjoy the climb, don't let yourself get winded" Well, thatwas real hard 3 years ago when I got started riding. Now I make sure I use my ADVAIR religiously, my Nasarel for my allergies...I do click it down to a spinny gear and just meditate on how great it is to climb without stopping. Friends will always wait at the top for you, if not, they are not friends. By the way. climbing is much more fun when you allow yourself to go at YOUR pace, not the pace of more experienced riders......

[bouncybouncy]

i struggle with breathing ALOT...i have in fact hyperventalated a few times on the trails (mostly when i have just done something extremely technical and it finally hits me what i have done or when i am mentally drained)
i have been told to try a couple of things...one which seems to just get me refocused on breathing is to slowly count to 10. another which i have not done yet but seems to be a yoga-similar technique...lay down and put a book on your belly...breath in raising the book counting to 5...eventually working your way up to 15....like i said i have not tried this one yet but in theory is sounds good.

the most important thing i learned is from a story about Ulrich...to force your belly out while inhaling, this allows more room inside for your lungs to expand....not the most flattering but if it works who cares!

good luck and do allow yourself warmup time...it usually takes me up to 1/2 hour to feel the zone!

[Geonz]

I remember doing sprint intervals on the swim team and somebody telling me "don't breathe so fast!" between them. I was amazed... slowing down the breathing is so counterintuitive but I did recover much faster! Now it's automatic.

[plantluvver]

I have trouble with exercise induced asthma, and I don't use my inhaler routinely. Warmig up seems to make a difference in whether I have a difficult time or not.

The drip is my body telling me that I am warmed up enough to push myself a little.

Mary

[RoadRaven]

Hey there... my two cents... (lol... that should be five cents worth, we phased two cent coins out years ago...)

Bouncy... I hadn't heard that technique of Ulrich's - will experiment next time I am out (that is... later today...)

What helps me with breathing is to conciously think about it... and get in a rythym that matches my pedals...

If my ride involves considerable stress (like up a hill, or in a TT), every now and again I become aware that I have started panting, so I "wrestle" with myself back to a slower rythym, and then I "huff" out a couple of times... that is, between each in-breath, I try to get rid of as much air in my lungs... its loud and sometimes messy (fine spray)... but it really helps me.

As for the dry mouth, me too - and that I attribute to me breathing in through my mouth when under 'stress'... I take a swig from my bottle, swirl it round to wet all of my mouth, spit it out, then take a little sip to coat my throat.

I also get "pursuiters cough" after rides that have been demanding due to the constant "heavy breathing", but that goes away between 12 and 72 (approx) hours.

Good luck with finding something that suits you...