Doesn't Paula do it backwards? (counting that is)

One word of advice though... PLease don't grunt! Grunting is annoying because it's normally a sign that I'm going to be overtaken by a 3 million year old man dressed in his club shirt from the 1820's!

don't think too hard, and remember, if you are going fast you should be gasping!
as a beginner though, try to run at about conversational pace - so you should be able to chat fairly comfortably to a friend all the way round.

As a beginner, if you find it difficult to "control your breathing" then it means you're going too fast. The key to developing endurance is to run very slowly for gradually longer and longer. If you can't have a conversation, then you're running too fast. Slow down, even if it feels odd and awkward. All you'll achieve by running too fast is get knackered, dispirited, and give up.

^ what he said.

That stitch thing works very well.

If I tried to count to 100 three times whilst running I'd probably lose track and get distracted, which is probably the point anyway.

I find I do the counting bit without noticing. Quite often I'll be "snapping out of it" and find I'm going "68, 69.." without realising.

Run with someone and try to keep talking all the way. That way you won't think about your breathing, if you can keep talking you are running at the right pace for you!

Something I discoverd at the week-end which you should never ever do is run while listening to Jack Dee live at the Apollo, or I'm sorry I haven't a clue. I found it was really hard to run and laugh out loud at the same time. Plus, other runners and cyclists must have thought I was seriously deranged...

Hi i have found that breathing through my nose only enables me to not over do it and clear my airways at the same time, also i do find if i go running with a friend and hold a conversation whilst running it stops me from running to hard and my breathing seems to settle because of this

Excellent advice Paul.

For more on nasal breathing, see the below article - scroll about a third of the way down the page to the section entitled "Hold Your Breath" (although do take the time to read the whole article as well)

http://www.tullyrunners.com/Articles/RaucciArticle.htm