How to breathe when running?

I'll just breathe at a rate that seems appropriate for the effort at the time. Timing it with the steps just complicates things. This isn't swimming, so that's not necessary.

The stomach breathing is hard because you're not used to it. You've developed the chest expansion more. Over time I've switched without really thinking about it.

I alternate stomach and chest breathing periods to go longer distances (my diaphram gets tired), but otherwise I don't pay much attention to it.  

I do breath out when landing on my left foot only, the breathing cadence varying with intensity.  Once I got in that habit, it stopped being something I worried about and also reduced the number if stitches I got.

One more thing - I tend to breath out more forcefully then in.   Kind of the reverse from swimming.

I don't really think about it its just something I noticed when I last went out for a long run :p and then once I noticed it I started counting just to keep my mind occupied. But now that its been noticed, I think about it.

The big question I had though was more on chest breathing vs gut breathing

The belly breathing is the way to go. You can engage your core and still do belly breathing. In my experience I get a better exhale, feel less stress and less tension on my neck and shoulder muscles overall and when I run. It's become second nature. I found that it's much easier to practice laying down and then sitting as opposed to standing.

While you're learning it you're really forced to pay attention to your breathing, which is a good zen way to be.   Also, as someone else just mentioned, I seem to have significantly fewer stitches when running. And it's much better for managing tension and stress. I always make sure I'm focused on the breathing before races. So yeah, I'm a convert. If you google "belly breathing benefits" you can see what I mean.

x2.  Just breathe.  Think about feeling yourself relax and staying light on your feet.  Not about your breathing.

I refuse > besides if I hadn't tried over-thinking I probably wouldn't be opened up to the idea of belly breathing. If I like it more, then over-thinking: 1.

http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/lung-power?page=single

This explains some of it. It appears belly breathing is the way to go... I think I chest breath.

Isn't that true of most BT threads?

Belly breathing is sooo much better. As a singer I would die if I chest breathed. If you can get comfortable belly breathing I am positive that you will be better off. It is a fuller breath and makes you feel better.

I only worry about my rate of breathing when I am going at sprinting speeds and am actually running out of a breath. At that point if I don't focus on it I end up messing with myself. Otherwise I just breathe as my body sees fit.

Up to 5k pace 3 in, 2 out.  Faster than 5k pace 2 in 2 out.

When I first started training I switched from "not thinking about it" to the 3-2 as a way help stop stitches (among many other urban legend remedies).

Now its just stuck because thats what I did for so long.

Its worth noting that when it comes to breathing, running style etc., there may be no "standard" good way.  I have recordings of the NY and Chicago Marathons over the years where breathing and running styles that you would think would sink a person over 300 yards result in sub 2:30 times.

We've all been in 5k races where a person ahead of us has no business being there based on something like this, and yet they are.  On running style, one just has to look at Dave Scott's duck run.

Over-thinking is putting more thought into something than is necessary. You had no idea, so asked about it. That's just learning.

I disagree with the people who say you shouldn't think about it. Controlling your breathing controls your heart rate and your intensity. On your next run run at varying intensities and try different tempos and patterns. I do agree with the people who say everybody is different and you have to find what is most effective for you.

I typically warm-up on a 4/4, run tempo at 3/3, and do intervals/racing at 2/2. I breathe through by belly, but occasionally I will take a big chest inhalation.

One last tip I got from a friend of mine and it makes perfect sense and I think about it regularly. He told be to focus on the exhale because without a full exhale you cannot get a full inhale. The way he explained was, imagine a 2 liter bottle that is full of air. At that point you cannot put much more air into the bottle without creating excess pressure. Now if you squeeze the bottle just a little, some of that air will leave the bottle and when you let the bottle go back to it's normal shape if will fill up with new air. However since you only squeezed it a little the bottle will now be a mix of new air (or new oxygen) and old air (carbon dioxide). But, if you squeeze the bottle all the way letting out all of the old air, you give way for all new air to enter the bottle.

So when I'm really working I focus on a good exhale and let the inhale happen sorta on it's own. 

I agree about controlling your breathing will control your heartrate.  You see this when you try to get your resting HR.  Your breathing starts to be controlled and fluid.

I belly breathe throughout the entire run.  It's hard and painful at first.  Just keep practicing. Also, I focus on exhaling more.  So, I'm a 3:4 breather.  If it's all out anaerobic, then it's 2-3.  That works for me.

Don't disagree on breathing affecting RHR but comparing RHR patterns with training heart rate patterns relative to breathing is almost meaningless.

I don't really think about my breathing either. It just happens. When I'm really into my swim and I'm focusing on form, I don't really concentrate on breathing. It just happens naturally with the rhythm of my stroke. When I run, my pace and breathing are always in rhythm. It feels right. As I pick up my pace, my stride will change to make sure I'm breathing in rhythm. I don't know how often I breathe or how many steps I breathe because it all fits. Different paces have different breathing patterns. The only times I'm really out of that rhythm is during a race when I'm pushing myself. That's when I'll make my legs go faster and my lungs protest.

I dunno...never really thought about breathing while running. It just happens and falls together for me.

No offense, but the fact that this can just sort of automatically happen for you without thinking about it doesn't mean that it works that way for everybody.

To OP: For 9:00 training pace I'm 5 steps in / 5 steps out.  For 8:00 HM pace I'm 4/4.  For 7:00 5k pace I'm 3/3.