PT & Running Please Help

[nishey94]

Firstly I am female, 5 2"and 150 pounds. So I'm sure this topic has been beaten to the ground BUT I still have a couple of questions. Currently my recruiter is helping me get to where I need to be to meet the physical standards to enlist. Im good on the crunches, and even the flexed arm hang. Currently I am able to do only 1 pull-up but its definitely progress. (trying to get to at least 3 pull-ups). I'm doing very well with my diet I am losing the weight, my goal is 130. My only problem is the running! I can run for 30 min straight without stopping but very very slowly. I try to run alongside my recruiter but can never keep up. It takes me 14 min to run 1 mile and half. Im trying to run everyday. I am mixing it up. Running long distance on some days and fast but short distance on other days. I just feel like I'm not progressing. Its been 3 weeks. Also I've been getting mixed information about my breathing I've read the best ratio for running would be 2:2 inhale/exhale. Do I breathe in and out through my mouth or in through my nose and out through my mouth? I feel like my legs are fine I could run faster and longer if it weren't for my breathing. After only like 5 minutes I feel like I can't breathe. I thought it was my lung capacity but after some research I found that it was my hearts ability to bring oxygen to the rest of my body. I need more endurance ..I guess the oxygen is just not getting to me fast enough? How do I get better?! How do I get my heart to get stronger? It try to push myself but if I go too far I start wheezing because I'm just not getting enough oxygen. Is it just a time thing. Do I just have to keep practicing and I will eventually get better? Will loosing the weight help with running faster? I want to get first class. I want to be able to run 3 miles in at most 20 minutes. I'm feeling very frustrated with myself!

[Kegler300]

I reduced my run time by incorporating a regimen of running sprints to increase the capacity of the fast-twitching muscles in my legs.

[madsox]

Well, first off - try to use paragraphs. Line breaks.

Makes things easier to read.

Second, keep working. Three weeks is not enough time to make a significant difference in physical training. Check some of the threads linked in to your post here and see if there's useful info in them.

Then get someone to help you develop a plan for your running and general fitness. It will take time, give yourself months (not weeks) and keep at it.

Keep us posted if you'd like to, and good luck! Motivation, determination, and dedication will get you far.

[Mongoose]

Andy......I wish that dang coffee cup would fill up, brother. Where is all that coffee going?

[madsox]

Billy, it just keeps going in one end and right out the other...

;)

[Tennessee Top]

I'm a retired Marine. And, a retired Respiratory Therapist (RT).

Wheezing is an indication the small airways in your lungs are restricting/closing off. This is one symptom of asthma (there are more). RT's treat wheezing with medication (bronchodilators which relax the smooth muscles in the lungs and allow the airways to open back up) - either via an inhaler or aerosol treatments. Not saying you have asthma. But if you do, it needs to be properly diagnosed and treated. Untreated asthma can be a life-threatening condition (I have seen patients die of an asthma attack that could not be reversed fast enough). You should seriously consider being evaluated by a licensed pulmonologist (lung doctor).

Good luck.

[nishey94]

I think it is exercise induced asthma, Im fairly certain....I think I just pushed myself too far for that first run, really tried to keep up. Its actually never happened before or after that one incident.

[nishey94]

sorry ya I can't find the edit button to separate my paragraphs haha. I think Im just slightly impatient. My recruiter is helping me and I actually did get a lot of info on here about running. Thank you!

[madsox]

Like Top said, and he does know about this, it sounds like you should have yourself checked for asthma. That can be life-threatening in extreme cases, so it's obvious how important it is to know if you have it, whether chronic or exercise-induced!

[Rocky C]

Another thing you should look at is any medications you are taking. Some conflict respiratory wise. I take a certain medication and when I had surgery they prescribed another medication for me to take. I took it once and suffered what's called respiratory depression. Still not breathing right and working with my pulmonologist at the VA hospital.

Don't fool around with any symptons you might be having breathing wise. See a DR.

Best of luck.

[Tennessee Top]

If you're fairly certain it's exercise-induced asthma. Just what do you expect will happen at Parris Island?http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/rvanclea/MISC/10553454_938860492794549_6062529158233953563_n.jpg[/URL]

[Tennessee Top]

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/rvanclea/MISC/10445932_10152548136117444_2350794264154541999_n.j pg (http://s238.photobucket.com/user/rvanclea/media/MISC/10445932_10152548136117444_2350794264154541999_n.j pg.html)

[Tennessee Top]

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/rvanclea/MISC/10994062_10152715428862444_824822789943056445_n.jp g (http://s238.photobucket.com/user/rvanclea/media/MISC/10994062_10152715428862444_824822789943056445_n.jp g.html)

[nishey94]

But its never happened before that, and I was running with my recruiter...he didn't say anything about it. Its not diagnosed or anything, I just felt like I was wheezing...