Training your lungs?

[spunkypenguin]

Sometimes, I feel like I could run so much faster, but my lungs/breathing holds me back.  I do have exercise induced asthma, which I take inhalers for.  This morning's 5K was decent, but it was foggy and cool.  My legs were great, but my lungs were killing me - even now, my chest still feels tight and I have a cough where it feels like there is stuff in my lungs.  It was the same when I did speed work for the first time in the cooler air - IDK if it's just an adjustment period?

Is there a way to train your lungs?  I'm not so good with counting my breaths/steps while I'm trying to run.  Anyone successfully improved their lung functioning to run faster?

[humpforfree]

I have this problem too. When I was running more frequently and longer it went away (just gradually increased speed & distance with half training. & had 4 halves over the spring).

Of course since getting knocked up I haven't been running like I should and I am still suffering from my 5k this morning... The worst is that I get hiccups from the wheezing that last all day.

[ddi741]

I feel the exact same way. I know I could do so much better if I could just breathe. I agree with pp. The best I felt and the best I ran was when I could train every day.

[libbygrl109]

This is exactly how I felt this morning during my run. The fog was dense and the humidity was 99% even though it was only 50°. I felt like someone was pushing on my chest the whole time. I'm going to my doctor at the end of the month to check on my air flow. She seems to think that my asthma is worse than I think it is (a mixture of allergy and exercise induce, but had gotten a lot better since I started running), and may send me to a specialist depending on how her tests go.

[pamela]

I used to feel this way and thought I'd never be able to run. I just slowed way down and built up very gradually. The cold definitely made it worse, but slowing down and breathing deliberately (2 steps in, 2 steps out) kept it under control for me.

[sadlebred]

I've seen these but have no idea if they work:

www.powerlung.com/region/us/products/trainer/

[Deleted]

Lots of people have to adjust to the cooler air. It can take a while to adjust. In the winter, you will see some people cover their nose and mouth so they don't breathe in the cold air. I can have wicked coughing periods until I finally adjust to the cold and I don't have asthma.

Overall, though, you need to improve your VO2 max. This offers some info: beta.active.com/running/Articles/Running-and-Breathing-A-Lesson-in-Oxygen-Intake-and-VO2-Max

[joenali]

Totally not running related, but when I do a swimming workout, part of my warm down is to swim underwater the whole length of the pool without breathing. I do it 4 times, usually the first one I don't quite make it, but by the 4th I can do the whole thing. I think doing that helps with all other activities I do. Plus I find it super relaxing!!