Cant catch breath

Question
For the past month I have attended a great boot camp style workout 3x a week.  My problem is I don't seem to catch my breath easily.  For example, today we did jumping jacks, push ups, then sprinted up a small hill. The second go round when i sprinted up the hill it took about 10 minutes for me to catch my breath and i felt like i had an air bubble in my chest (still feel like that right now and it has been 12 hours - like i need to burp).  I love this workout but it is mystifying me why I am having such a difficult time catching my breath.  On off days i run on a treadmill 1.5 - 2miles at a 12 minute mile pace.  I know i am out of boot camp shape so i expect this will get easier, but how can i control it in the meantime? Btw this is very cardio intensive - with a few breaks. I am 43, 190 pounds 5'2 (i lost 60 pounds last year and really want the last 60 gone!)

cheers

Answer
Hi Dominga,

First off, congrats on losing the 60?it抯 easier said than done, and it sounds like you抮e well on your way.

Sprinting puts a lot of stress on the body and really pushes your cardio system. It is not unusual to lose your breath for a few minutes during this type of activity (but 10 is a bit much). A typical running program only has the runner doing sprint work once a week?and that is typically after they have built up a solid amount of base mileage.

3x a week might be a bit much for your current fitness level. You might want to increase the amount of time that you jog on your off days, and decrease your effort slightly on the sprints. Over time, try to gradually increase the intensity during your cardio workouts ?doing too much too soon is a recipe for injury. You want to be in it for long haul, so be patient and keep up the good work.

cheers,
Greg