"Side Stitch" ??s

[sweetpee_1993]

Yes, I'm the world's worst on-again/off-again wannabe runner. :lol:

I started working back into the run/walk intervals about a month ago. My 13yro son started out tagging along on his bicycle but a few days in his chain came off. Not wanting to let his helpless old mom leave the house alone ((so sweet)), he decided to try keeping up with me on foot. Well, it seems he likes the challenge of going with me on my run/walks so now I have a buddy with me. We've been gradually increasing our run intervals sort of on a modified 'Couch to 5k' schedule. With our last little bump up in run time my son started getting a stitch in his right side. Bless his heart, even with the stitch in his side he doesn't allow himself to stop. He wants so bad to stay with me so he just sorta pushes thru it and doesn't complain. I can see his discomfort. He talks to me about it if I ask. Of course as a momma when I see him in pain I'm fighting the urge to load him up on my back and tote him home. :lol:

Generally our routine is to get up, have a bowl of oatmeal & cup of iced coffee, sip some water, then head outside before it gets too unbearably hot. I don't have problems with stitches in my side so I'm not sure if the eating & drinking so soon before going out is what's causing this for him. If it could be the culprit, what can we do to ease this? Is it a horrible thing if he waits until after our run/walk to eat? I can't imagine myself going out before eating because I wake up hungry and need the fuel for the old bod. Or should we just get up earlier so he can wait longer between eating & running?

 

[scorp111]

Yes, I'm the world's worst on-again/off-again wannabe runner. :lol:

I started working back into the run/walk intervals about a month ago. My 13yro son started out tagging along on his bicycle but a few days in his chain came off. Not wanting to let his helpless old mom leave the house alone ((so sweet)), he decided to try keeping up with me on foot. Well, it seems he likes the challenge of going with me on my run/walks so now I have a buddy with me. We've been gradually increasing our run intervals sort of on a modified 'Couch to 5k' schedule. With our last little bump up in run time my son started getting a stitch in his right side. Bless his heart, even with the stitch in his side he doesn't allow himself to stop. He wants so bad to stay with me so he just sorta pushes thru it and doesn't complain. I can see his discomfort. He talks to me about it if I ask. Of course as a momma when I see him in pain I'm fighting the urge to load him up on my back and tote him home. :lol:

Generally our routine is to get up, have a bowl of oatmeal & cup of iced coffee, sip some water, then head outside before it gets too unbearably hot. I don't have problems with stitches in my side so I'm not sure if the eating & drinking so soon before going out is what's causing this for him. If it could be the culprit, what can we do to ease this? Is it a horrible thing if he waits until after our run/walk to eat? I can't imagine myself going out before eating because I wake up hungry and need the fuel for the old bod. Or should we just get up earlier so he can wait longer between eating & running?

It could be related to the eating/drinking, but also, a lot of side stitches can be avoiding by changing the way you breathe.

http://running.about.com/od/runningforbeginners/f/sidestitch.htm

 

[joel_maxwell]

It could be related to the eating/drinking, but also, a lot of side stitches can be avoiding by changing the way you breathe.

http://running.about.com/od/runningforbeginners/f/sidestitch.htm

YEP!

I have the best (from what I have read and experience) side stitch remedy. If you feel one coming on or get one all the sudden, do the following:

1) dont stop running
2) possibly slow your pace a little to compensate for #3
3) take deep breathes letting ALL your air out of the lungs and then ALL the way in
4) do this for as long as it takes and it will go away.

I can feel them coming on if I eat a snack to late at work then go run. I have been doing this method for about a year and it works.

 

[dreamfinder]

Stuff I have read pretty much say to go all Buddah belly/Santa Claus when that happens. Pretty much suck in as much air as possible and then blow it all the way out. Has kept off some smaller stitches I have felt.

 

[JillC LI]

YEP!

I have the best (from what I have read and experience) side stitch remedy. If you feel one coming on or get one all the sudden, do the following:

1) dont stop running
2) possibly slow your pace a little to compensate for #3
3) take deep breathes letting ALL your air out of the lungs and then ALL the way in
4) do this for as long as it takes and it will go away.

I can feel them coming on if I eat a snack to late at work then go run. I have been doing this method for about a year and it works.

I agree with all of this. I used to suffer terribly from side stitches as an early runner. Now I only get them occasionally. I also used to think that it had something to do with eating before running but I have since learned that it has everything to do with breathing. One thing I'd add to Joel's breathing remedy that helps me is when I breathe out, I push my stomach out with the outgoing breath.

 

[joel_maxwell]

I agree with all of this. I used to suffer terribly from side stitches as an early runner. Now I only get them occasionally. I also used to think that it had something to do with eating before running but I have since learned that it has everything to do with breathing. One thing I'd add to Joel's breathing remedy that helps me is when I breathe out, I push my stomach out with the outgoing breath.

Yes, I forgot that one. Shallow breathes will get you in trouble.

Hmmm, you know Jill, I wonder if in fact it might be food/fluid related. Think about it like this, if you are full from food, or have a lot of fluid in your stomach, that full sensation might trick your brain and make you not breath all the way out due to a full feeling. This in turn would start a trend of shallow breathing. If you consciously make an effort not to breath shallow, then you would overcome the full feeling.

The only reason Im getting all armchair scientist on you is that I have never gotten a stitch in an early AM run. There is nothig on my stomach and little fluid too. On an afternoon run, I have had a banana or raisins for a snack and water all day. Just a thought.

 

[JillC LI]

Yes, I forgot that one. Shallow breathes will get you in trouble.

Hmmm, you know Jill, I wonder if in fact it might be food/fluid related. Think about it like this, if you are full from food, or have a lot of fluid in your stomach, that full sensation might trick your brain and make you not breath all the way out due to a full feeling. This in turn would start a trend of shallow breathing. If you consciously make an effort not to breath shallow, then you would overcome the full feeling.

The only reason Im getting all armchair scientist on you is that I have never gotten a stitch in an early AM run. There is nothig on my stomach and little fluid too. On an afternoon run, I have had a banana or raisins for a snack and water all day. Just a thought.

All right, I'll give you that. If your food intake affects your breathing then it could be the cause. From my own personal experience though, I can go out early in the morning on an empty stomach or at night after eating a huge meal at Le Cel and not get a side stitch. I think I'm more likely to breathe wrong when I'm too hot or tired than based on what is in my stomach. But everyone is different.

 

[joel_maxwell]

All right, I'll give you that. If your food intake affects your breathing then it could be the cause. From my own personal experience though, I can go out early in the morning on an empty stomach or at night after eating a huge meal at Le Cel and not get a side stitch. I think I'm more likely to breathe wrong when I'm too hot or tired than based on what is in my stomach. But everyone is different.

True. Everyone is different.

Thinking about it now, I seem to only get them (or start to get them if you do the list above ) In hot weather. Less V02, thicker air, more humid means shallow short breathes for me.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Okay, y'all! I appreciate the help. Truly. I think more than anything it was the breathing. Like I said, he's 13 years old. This kiddo isn't the most coordinated guy either. For years and years he could spontaneously just fall down. Not doing anything. Just one minute he's standing there and the next minute he's on the ground. I guess it was over a year or so ago he attempted joining me on runs but it didn't work out very well. His lack of coordination nearly killed him. He'd be jogging but it was this bouncy, flailing gait. There was nothing rhythmic about it. I'd get worn out just watching him. :lol: Needless to say, he never got very far and he'd be spent. Now he's at this age where he's all reaching out to the hubby & I for common bonds and stuff. He wanted to run with me so he gave it another shot. This time he's doing much better. He started out with this weird gait where he was rhythmic and repetitive without flailing but he sounded like he wasn't extending his legs forward and I'd hear every step he took like he was smacking his feet into the ground on his downswing. It was odd. I gently made suggestions to help him get a better stride going. I've gradually helped him get where he has a smoother gait although I think he still seems mighty bouncy. I can't bounce like that. My knees would give out...not to mention the girl-parts...:lookaroun...ouch! This last hurdle with him has been the breathing. He's not very rhythmic with the breathing and, yes, he was quite choppy and gaspy when he started wearing out. I've been working with him on controlling the breathing. That's the hardest part for me, too. Since reading your info I've really ramped up the focus on breathing. Slow, smooth, and deep...in for a 3- or 4-count then out for a 3- or 4- count. When he's had the side stitches we'd slow to a walk and breath in thru the nose really slowly as big as we can get then blow it out slow and steady until the air is gone. That's made a big difference. However, I'm wondering if he needs to see the pediatrician because when he takes his biggest breath he can in he gets to a point then has to cough. I wonder is that a sign of asthma. :shrug: There's certainly a lot of family history with asthma.

Anywhoo, thanks lots and lots. I absolutely love that Brian is getting into the running stuff. He told me last week during a run/walk: "I want to be the first kid in all of our family to run a 5k! Then a 1/2 marathon! I think that would be so cool!"

 

[wdwmagic]

I had this pretty bad when I started running. For me the biggest culprit was food. I now eat something small, like a Cliff Bar mini, along with some water - 30 mins before the run. Eating oatmeal before a run would definitely be a problem for me.