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"You should be able to talk" - What does that mean?

mckenyamckenya
in Health & Exercise

So I was advised by my doctor that I can continue my running (yay!) but that I should keep at aerobic threshold and not going beyond and get so out of breath that the baby doesn't get enough oxygen.  I get that she doesn't want me to push myself too hard but it's hard to find any routes where I live that don't have minor hills that cause me to breathe hard for a little bit.  Am I taking her advice too literally?

 

How do you ladies know that you're not pushing it too far?

 

I'm not feeling overly tired or fatigued when I run up hills (it's not hill training, its just hills on my runs) so I know I'm fine but I get nervous that I can't carry a conversation as I run up the hill.  I've run 4 marathons so I'm in good running shape but I'm so confused about this! 

Mama to a baby girl born 1/21/2012.
Currently back stateside but missing Kenya!
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Re: "You should be able to talk" - What does that mean?

  • mckenyamckenya
    imageCrash Into Me:

    It means just what you think it means. If you're breathing too hard to hold a conversation, then you need to slow down.

    Since your activity level seems to be above the average female's, try going by Rate of Perceived Exertion.  On a scale of 1-10, you want to stick to about a 6 or 7.

     

    Yeah I get that on an entire run, I shouldn't be breathing hard.  But is it ok for like <1 min while I go up a hill?  

    Mama to a baby girl born 1/21/2012.
    Currently back stateside but missing Kenya!
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  • genekellygenekelly member
    If you can't even utter a word going up the hill then you should slow down.  Even a small decrease in your pace can have an impact on your breathing ability meaning you can still run up the hill, just run slower on the hill then pick up the pace again.  FWIW, at 8 wks pregnant I ran a PR 1/2 marathon on a flat course and I'm sure at some point I was having a "breathy conversation" with my sister.   My pace started to naturally slow after 16 wks and I ran until ~30 wks when my belly just became too uncomfortable.  Good luck and HTH!
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  • MesmrEweMesmrEwe member

    One thing about being at a competitive level in sport is that your body is acustomed to your particular sport and what is required of it.  You breathe a certain way naturally through what people not in the sport would claim as heavy sprints without necessarily getting winded.  Sure, you aren't going to run a 4minute mile here, but what would tire out an average person is different for someone who is "used" to running that way.  Best thing to do is use your head and your instinct from second to second, go ahead and keep a decent pace, but not one that tires or wears you out.  Talking and having a conversation to a runner while running is different than if I was trying to hold a conversation while doing a moderate hike for example.  Your "able to talk" is different from someone who is not in competitive shape, but you have to adjust for YOUR body's cues.  Or as one of my buddy's doctor put it on his return to work after surgery "don't be a knucklehead" listen to your body! 

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  • JennicapJennicap member
    can you walk up the hill instead of running it? And if its just for 30seconds.. I don't think thats a big deal but if your nervous walk the hills and then run again.

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  • mamarunnermamarunner member
    It's just an easy way to keep your heart rate in check.  If you can't hold a conversation while running, then your heart rate is probably over the recommended 140-150 bpm.  Your body will start to tell you when it's time to cut back.  I ran some pretty gnarly hills until 22 weeks, but after that, it just wasn't worth it anymore.  Now at 27 weeks, it's all about bathroom breaks and pelvic pressure.  Happy running!
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  • blu-eyedwifeblu-eyedwife member
    imageMesmrEwe:

    One thing about being at a competitive level in sport is that your body is acustomed to your particular sport and what is required of it.  You breathe a certain way naturally through what people not in the sport would claim as heavy sprints without necessarily getting winded.  Sure, you aren't going to run a 4minute mile here, but what would tire out an average person is different for someone who is "used" to running that way.  Best thing to do is use your head and your instinct from second to second, go ahead and keep a decent pace, but not one that tires or wears you out.  Talking and having a conversation to a runner while running is different than if I was trying to hold a conversation while doing a moderate hike for example.  Your "able to talk" is different from someone who is not in competitive shape, but you have to adjust for YOUR body's cues.  Or as one of my buddy's doctor put it on his return to work after surgery "don't be a knucklehead" listen to your body! 

    I agree with this.  My doctor didn't give me the "able to talk" talk, and frankly I run by myself or with the dog, so I don't do a lot of talking anyway.  I pretty much just ran at what I was able to.  Your body quickly lets you know if it's too much - trust me!  I'm still running every day but a "run" for me is now around a 12 minute mile which is a heckalot slower than I ran before.  I  actually find myself more out of breath climbing a flight of stairs than running 3-5 miles!

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  • novlove11novlove11
    imageCrash Into Me:

    It means just what you think it means. If you're breathing too hard to hold a conversation, then you need to slow down.

    Since your activity level seems to be above the average female's, try going by Rate of Perceived Exertion.  On a scale of 1-10, you want to stick to about a 6 or 7.

    THIS! 

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  • StrikeGirlStrikeGirl member
    imageMesmrEwe:

    One thing about being at a competitive level in sport is that your body is acustomed to your particular sport and what is required of it.  You breathe a certain way naturally through what people not in the sport would claim as heavy sprints without necessarily getting winded.  Sure, you aren't going to run a 4minute mile here, but what would tire out an average person is different for someone who is "used" to running that way.  Best thing to do is use your head and your instinct from second to second, go ahead and keep a decent pace, but not one that tires or wears you out.  Talking and having a conversation to a runner while running is different than if I was trying to hold a conversation while doing a moderate hike for example.  Your "able to talk" is different from someone who is not in competitive shape, but you have to adjust for YOUR body's cues.  Or as one of my buddy's doctor put it on his return to work after surgery "don't be a knucklehead" listen to your body! 

    This is good. I"m a personal trainer and I think fit pregnant women end up getting advice from people who forget how much stronger and more resiliant our bodies are than someone who has never exercised. I taught kickboxing all the way up until 32 weeks and my doctor just told me, "If you're too hot and out of breath, so is the baby." So that was a good indictator for me while teaching. Screw the keep your heartrate under 140 bpm rule. It's bull$hit if you're already super fit and acclimated to intensity. Just listen to your body; you'll know when to back off if it's getting too tough.

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