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Running Club F.C., Volume 18: Terry McConnell, Buckland

by JEFF LAJOIE Staff Writer, Greenfield Recorder

Terry McConnell, shown here instructing a class on breath at the Greenfield YMCA. Dan Little photo

As a reminder, we’re always looking for suggestions and recommendations on people/stories we should be featuring in our series, Running Club Franklin County.

Do you have any tips? Send us your running stories to sports@recorder.com, and they may be included in this space.

We continue with Volume 18 where we talk breathing techniques with a veteran West County harrier.

Terry McConnell, Buckland

Here’s an exercise for the next time you’re out running: breathe in, then breathe out. Inhale, exhale. Easy, right? That’s just what we do. Now, try again, but this time, don’t use your mouth. Breathe in through the nose, then back through the nose. And then do it again, and again, and again. Try doing it throughout the entirety of your training run.

How’d that go for you?

For 73-year-old Terry McConnell, doing exactly that has become a way of life. The Buckland resident adopted the breathing routine four years ago, after reading the book “Body, Mind, and Sport” by John Douillard. McConnell and his wife Carol teach courses in breath, which he said can help people asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, or sleep problems (their website is breatheforlifechange.net).

Terry McConnell said he’s had asthma his entire life. When he decided to adopt breathing through his nose while running, he said it came after a long history of illness following runs.

“In my 60’s, I would run hard and then I’d be sick two days later,” he explained. “It was a pattern. I’d run hard, breathing through the mouth, and then I’d get sick. I was doing something wrong. After reading the Douillard book, I started working toward breathing entirely through my nose when I was running. It took me about four years to get to this point, but my health is much better now at 73 than it was in my 60’s. I think a lot of runners have that problem, but maybe they don’t like to talk about it that much.”

McConnell said the process wasn’t easy. I can attest to that, as I’ve been trying it myself recently during runs and things haven’t gone particularly well, to say the least.

“With asthma, I’d been a mouth breather all my life,” he began. “The first time I tried to run while breathing through the nose was very frustrating. It seemed like an impossible task. But I kept at it for four years. Now I breathe through the nose all the time on both inhale and exhale. I can run at top speed now, breathing through my nose. Nose breathing has made a big change in my life. I get sick a lot less and an illness will last about a day. I remember back a few years ago when an illness could last a month or two.”

Testimonials

Anne Faith Day

Anne's Hands

I have had the pleasure both professionally and personally getting to know Carol. Carol has performed her skills as a lecturer at my establishment in Sterling, Ma. Carol has the ability to communicate within an array of age groups and remains poised and educational when answering questions. Carol is warm and engaging. I feel privileged to have worked alongside of her in several situations and to know her as a friend.

Student

Fitchburg State University

I strongly suggest for anyone and everyone to take this class! My instructor, Carol, is absolutely phenomenal. She explained everything in an understanding, meticulous way! She is a compassionate person and excellent teacher. I felt very comfortable in her class and certainly learned a lot about how valuable her techniques apply to my body and overall health! Thank you so much Carol! You are a special person!