Running Expert

Osteopath and athlete Jean-Francois Harvey answers your running questions

- Sarah Ivory

Q Should I think about how I breathe when I run?

A Yes, breathing properly will help you save energy. According to some studies, nearly 20 per cent of the energy expended during running is connected to the effort of the respiratory muscles. What’s more, it appears that the feeling of struggling to breathe has an influence on your nervous system – and therefore on fatigue, too.

Proper breathing primarily involves the diaphragm muscle. At rest, this muscle alone is able to ensure a complete breathing cycle. When it contracts, your diaphragm expands the volume of the abdomen and rib cage, creating a vacuum so air is sucked into the lungs. When you exhale, your diaphragm releases, forcing air out of your lungs.