# Cyclocross race, can not breath **URL:** \ **Category:** Racing\ **Tags:** cyclocross\ **Created:** [November 5, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602 "2019-11-05T23:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nicktaylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/nicktaylor/32/7725_2.png) [@Nicktaylor](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Nicktaylor)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/1 "2019-11-05T23:12:13Z")
Hi , i am 6 races in now , for some reason this season i just feel like i cant breath , starved of oxygen somehow . Legs feel good . Any ideas ---
**Author:** ![gcarver](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/gcarver/32/15266_2.png) [@gcarver](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/gcarver)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/2 "2019-11-06T00:09:30Z")
Asthma? Hyperventilating? Maybe sinus drainage going down the back of your throat? ---
**Author:** ![scottmarlowe](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/scottmarlowe/32/18529_2.png) [@scottmarlowe](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/scottmarlowe)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:41am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/3 "2019-11-06T03:41:54Z")
Maybe you’re just going out too hard? Have you been doing any VO2 efforts? How have those gone? ---
**Author:** ![jeremy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jeremy/32/27460_2.png) [@jeremy](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jeremy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/4 "2019-11-06T03:47:25Z")
Cross is hard, the start is harder, and when you have a good 60 seconds of anaerobic power everything is a nail. It’s possible you’re starting too hard and need to dial it back a bit, combined with the air being cold and shocking your lungs. Can you provide a bit more detail on what’s going on here? Do you feel like you have a hard time actually breathing, or just that your breath is out of control, or light-headed? ---
**Author:** ![Power13](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/power13/32/92171_2.png) [@Power13](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Power13)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 4:05am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/6 "2019-11-06T04:05:56Z")
As noted, coming out too hard can make you suffer the whole race, never catching your breath. That said, it is entirely possible you have Exercise Induced Asthma…mine is rarely triggered unless I am racing / going hard in the cold. Then it is almost impossible for me to catch my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Nicktaylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/nicktaylor/32/7725_2.png) [@Nicktaylor](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Nicktaylor)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 10:21am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/7 "2019-11-06T10:21:43Z")
Hi, i have eased off slightly at the start , just feel Off maybe 5-10 % down from breathing capacity to previous years, training has tapered down due to family/winter etc , not sure if i should rest and its fatigue or try more vo2 workouts, i dont think its a health issue ---
**Author:** ![SteveCoulson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/stevecoulson/32/10768_2.png) [@SteveCoulson](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/SteveCoulson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/8 "2019-11-06T16:28:19Z")
I used to feel something similar to the first part of any type of race that went hell for leather straight from the gun. Then instead of looking at a taper I looked atthe build up to the race. Previously I used to take two days off straight but the downside was the start of a race I was literally being sick and shaking due to the zero to high work load. So now I dont actually taper, but thats just because it suits me but the two things that did make a huge difference the morning of the day before Ill do a primers session like tallac and then on the actual morning of the race before I even eat breakfast I do my race warm up (I actually made it and listed it as BC warmup on trainerroad), this will get my HR up to race levels. Then at the race I gently spin my legs to get them moving, but during the manic start I now never have the previous problems, my hr is very quickly up to speed and I can control the race a lot better. Ive also used the same ‘system’ for evening track league races, for me at least it seems that getting my hr up earlier in the day means I get up to pace a lot quicker and easier. ---
**Author:** ![anthonylane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/anthonylane/32/7098_2.png) [@anthonylane](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/anthonylane)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/9 "2019-11-06T17:05:08Z")
The nature of cyclocross puts a huge tax on your ventilatory system. This in turn manifests in a high ventilation rate (how many breaths you take per minute). As you become more fit you’ll become more efficient at breathing. In any given race it usually takes me around 2 laps (10-15 min) to settle down and get my breathing under control. Heart rate is within 95% of max all race. ---
**Author:** ![Raythebike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/raythebike/32/9412_2.png) [@Raythebike](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Raythebike)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/10 "2019-11-09T17:43:00Z")
@Nicktaylor, are you warming up properly? i find using a Turbo gets the HR a lot higher than just riding around the course. Are you riding in the NWCCA league by any chance ? Also recommend doing “openers” as the optimum pre race day workout, sort of mini race effort. ---
**Author:** ![Nicktaylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/nicktaylor/32/7725_2.png) [@Nicktaylor](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Nicktaylor)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/11 "2019-11-10T18:50:37Z")
Hi ray,hope your well , for some reason i seem to be lacking on the breathing this year !! i can not warm up on the turbo due to silly bolt through rat axles, although i do warm up on the road and try to get in the red , before the race. I take it openers means the day before ride , whats your recommendation there ray. Cheers ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Doughnutman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/captain_doughnutman/32/7694_2.png) [@Captain\_Doughnutman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Captain_Doughnutman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/12 "2019-11-10T21:37:42Z")
Perhaps MvdP is taking your breath away? 🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Soderman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jeff_soderman/32/12890_2.png) [@Jeff\_Soderman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Jeff_Soderman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/13 "2019-11-10T23:19:49Z")
Can’t breath? It’s CX, you’re doing it right!😜 ---
**Author:** ![Raythebike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/raythebike/32/9412_2.png) [@Raythebike](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Raythebike)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 8:39am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/14 "2019-11-11T08:39:13Z")
Nick, I do a TR workout about 40 mins long that includes the main energy systems, endurance for the warm up, sweet spot, threshold, VO2 and sprints but for short durations. I’ll send you a link to our NWCCA team and you’ll see the custom workouts in there. ---
**Author:** ![Raythebike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/raythebike/32/9412_2.png) [@Raythebike](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Raythebike)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 10:01am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/15 "2019-11-27T10:01:34Z")
@Nicktaylor, happy birthday for yesterday. Hows the training going? ---
**Author:** ![Nicktaylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/nicktaylor/32/7725_2.png) [@Nicktaylor](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Nicktaylor)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2019, 10:19am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/16 "2019-11-27T10:19:26Z")
Hi ray , thanks, good but worked all day the took phoebes to racing , some trapped nerve or something from working in my shoulder this weeks injury, so had a break from the bike, just jogging. Tried the tips pre warm up etc at the Ulverston race , breathing a lot better but legs went last two laps . Always find it hard training this time of year, seems so much easier in summer, how are you ---
**Author:** ![Raythebike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/raythebike/32/9412_2.png) [@Raythebike](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Raythebike)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/cyclocross-race-can-not-breath/23602/17 "2019-12-05T21:35:30Z")
Fine. Just had a CX skills session with the NCC Youths. Keeps me going even though I can’t stay with them. I’m doing 6-8 hrs a week, 450+ TSS regularly. Having to travel to keep racing but the NW picks up after Xmas.