Lately I've been getting stitches. I have been increasing my mileage, but not massively and if anything I'm running slower than before.
I seem to get more if I run in the evening. Does this happen to anyone else? Is there any reason why I'm more likely to get them in the evening? What can I do to cut them out? I can't always train in the mornings because of work.
Thanks for any suggestions,
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Apparently if you blow out as if to blow out candles on a cake, hold it, and try to blow out anything else you have left in your lungs, THIS WORKS. I tried this on my next few runs and although I found it difficult to hold it once blown out, I could feel it pulling on my lower abs and strangely, the stitch eased after doing this a few times. I think the ideal thing to do is to stop and do this but I found that if I concentrate on exhaling more than normal on each breath during normal running, this also seems to work after a little time. You do end up sounding like you're exhausted though!
This method might work because you're concentrating on your breathing, but as long as it works, do we care?!
Give it a go and good luck!
Also don't take on too much fluid in the hour before running.
thanks,
Sam
the deep exhalations work like a charm.
stitches also become less frequent the longer(as in time in months and years) that you run(not just miles) as the tendons get stronger.
If you do still happen to get one, the above tips sometimes work, definitely the 'blowing out' one. I also find that raising my arm on the side of the stitch straight up seems to stretch out the diaphragm and that's helped in the past.
Good luck - I hope you find something that works for you. I was crippled by a stitch in the middle of last year's Race for Life and lost a couple of minutes by having to completely stop and walk - too much water just before the race - so I know how painful and frustrating they can be!
Will try the blowing out one for races which only offer cold water (i.e. most of them). Foxy 2's theory sounds good as well. Useful thread!
Fantastic, thanks for this advice.
I am training for the 2012 London Marathon and despite having run (on and off) for quite a few years now, I am getting seriously bad stitch on virtually every run. It's really starting to get me down, to the point where I am worried I won't be able to hack the marathon.
I ran the Birmingham Half Marathon a few weeks ago and within about 10 mins of starting, I was having to slow down to get rid of it.
Will be giving all these tips a go at the weekend on my next run. Thanks everyone.