have been running for 18 months and am plagued with stitches - left or right side, sometimes shoulder. my training has been going well, but feel I can't reach my full potential - ran 10k yesterday and suffered from start to finish. don't eat or drink for several hours before a run, not sure what else I can do - anyone help?
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Stitch normally relates to an area just under your rib cage - shoulder pain is probably something else.
Do you get them with any other form of exercise, such as swimming or cycling? When you get one, does it go off if you walk for a minute or two?
I'm stumped on this one - might even be worth getting a quick medical check up?
I have heard that this sort of problem goes away after a few months - but 18 months?
Anyone else got any ideas?
Gavin
have every sympathy...stitches can be just miserable! Although my abs feel quite strong (do a Karen Voight abs & back pilates vid a couple of times a week), doesn't seem to make any difference to the frequency of my stitches. Am trying the nose strip to help with my breathing and am permantly plugged into some music to try and distract me from waiting for the stitch to kick in. Wouldn't give up running just yet...surely there's some remedy out there that we haven't yet tried - here's hoping anyway!
Sooz
It is very true that the more you think about it the quicker the stitch comes on. I read somewhere that they have something to do with the bounce and the strain that it puts on your ligaments. Have thought about trying a different pair of shoes as mine are air-cushioned. Feel I am clutching at straws but it is good to know that I am not the only one. Thing is I really enjoy running and would like to go faster/farther but after running for 25mins with a stitch its not much fun, as you know! May give the nose strips a go. Where do you get them from?
Cheers Sal
bought breathe easy strips from local chemist and as the're clear, not too obvious! struggling with regular breathing just now as have a stonking cold, but planning a 10K at weekend, so will see how I get on. Like you, would love to run longer and further so anything is worth a try.
Good luck with strips - let me know how you get on.
Sooz
There is a bit in this months RW mag about stitches.. simple rememdies include:
breathe out like you are blowing out a candle
tense abdominal muscles as if you are about to be punched in the stomach
Can't remember the others, and havent had a stitch since to try out the tips!
go-slow