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Q. Hey Fitz, My name is Sarah and I'm almost 16. I have always been involved with sports including: hockey, basketball, soccer and you name it! Now that I am older, I have slowed down a bit and only play basketball for high school and travel. This is what is bothering me: I can't seem to run as long as I used to. I get tired easily and run out of breath. I'm not fat or anything, and I am even really fast. But by the time I run one length of the court I'm pretty much dead. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to change this? It seems like I get more out of breathe each season. Thanks, Sarah

A. Hi Sarah, Thanks for writing. I have two thoughts on what may be happening with you, the first being more probable than the last. Most likely, you've just become out of shape. That doesn't mean you're obese or in horrible shape, it just may mean you're not capable of doing as much as you were two years ago when you were involved in three sports! You take pride in the fact that you run fast. That's great! But, the fact that you like to go all out probably makes you more likely to suck wind at the end of one lap.

I imagine if you were jogging at a medium pace you would be able to cover a significantly greater distance. So what can you do if this is your issue? Run more often! Consistency is key to building endurance and that's what you're lacking at the moment. Basketball requires a heck of a lot of running, so do that. Run. Run. Run. Plan to jog one mile five days a week for one week. Each week thereafter, add another quarter mile to that distance. Once you hit the two mile mark, stop adding distance and start training for speed. Increase your pace! When you've enhanced your cardiorespiratory endurance, basketball won't "kill you" anymore.

The other possibility is that you're simply dealing with a respiratory issue. Allergies and asthma could be causing you grief. If you increase your training and your situation doesn't improve ... go see a doctor! A pulmonologist is the type of doctor that deals with breathing issues. I've got one myself. And if it turns out that you are dealing with a respiratory problem, fear not! Like mine, yours can be controlled. Thanks again for the great question Sarah. Now get to work!

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