A 6.3km run with Alyssa again tonight. Another slow one due again to Alyssa getting a stitch a few times, so there were quite a few walk breaks to try and walk them off. Overall pace 6:01.
From the research I’ve done there doesn’t appear to be any accepted reason or cure for stitches during running. Do any of you have experience with them or ideas on what to do to avoid them ?
August 4, 2008 at 9:28 pm |
I am not sure why it occurs – for me it was related to food intake – not so much what but when and how long I had waited before running
August 4, 2008 at 9:53 pm |
I used to get them when I started out running. It stopped after a while, perhaps after I got fitter.
Not sure.
August 4, 2008 at 11:04 pm |
Two things I try: 1. (running) exhale hard as you land on the foot on the same side as the stitch, and 2, (walking) breathe out fully all the way, trying to relax the diaphragm as you go (you need to walk – this can hurt if it’s bad).
I don’t get them very often now, and it had nothing to do with food intake for me. But you can run through them, and it doesn’t have to affect your speed – as I found out during a Puffing Billy race a few years ago. I had the stitch for close to an hour, and recorded my best time to date. perhaps I was just in a hurry to finish!
August 4, 2008 at 11:34 pm |
I’ve never really had a problem with stitches, but I’ve had one during my last two or three runs. Not bad enough to stop me, but quite noticeable. I haven’t changed anything about my pre-run routine. I’ve heard it’s related to dehydration, which is quite possible with me because I don’t drink nearly enough.
August 4, 2008 at 11:44 pm |
I got stitches more often when I was less fit. The fitter I’m becoming, the less they happen. When I got them, I took about 30seconds out, slowed my breathing down, and rubbed the area. And then I started off again.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
August 5, 2008 at 1:35 am |
I have to leave an hour and a half between snacking and going out for a run. If it’s an actual meal then it’s more like three hours. Any less and I get BAD stitch!
It does seem to hurt more when my running fitness is low though, so I imagine it will improve for Alyssa quite quickly
You can run through them too, but I’m not usually that hardcore!!
TA x
August 5, 2008 at 10:59 am |
I’ve heard it’s about food but my understanding was it was about the oxygen intake not getting into the blood fast enough or something? I also heard a suggestion to press right into the stitch as you run with two fingers. I tried this once but I don’t very often get stitches at all. I think it is just due to fitness level. So keep at it and they should get better for her, I’d expect.
August 5, 2008 at 4:58 pm |
I breathe them out. I inhale deeply to 2 steps and exhale to 2 steps and get a rhythm that way. Also I don’t tend to eat much before a run.
August 5, 2008 at 7:22 pm |
I haven’t had one since I was a kid – touch wood!
August 5, 2008 at 8:51 pm |
(Reading for answers as I’m clueless…now wondering IS there one reason? Seems so unique to the individual huh?)
August 6, 2008 at 2:26 pm |
The mysteries of life…and the stich appears to be just another one. As a runner, I can’t remember my last stitch, but as a coach of 15-25 runners I see them regularly.
I ‘believe’ to help reduce the problem you do need to concentrate on exhaling deeply, this seems to help more than anyother method.
I don’t believe it is fitness related, I have seen some very fit and fast athletes experience stitches.