the_Trainer said:
Firstly you need to differentiate more clearly whether it is a stomach cramp you're getting or a 'stitch'.
A 'stitch' being the feeling as if there is someone twisting the muscles in your side and yanking them on each breath.
A cramp being when you ingested a laxative and now you stomach is really making you pay for it!
From what you've said thus far I would say you've been getting 'stitches'. These are extremely uncomfortable and is the downfall of many a runner.
A 'stitch' is cramping of various smaller muscles in the abdominal region. One can get them in the sides, or on top of the stomach just below the ribs - in the latter the muscles of the diaphragm actually go into spasm.
They are primarily cuased by incorrect breathing technique. Many notice that if they start talking to someone while running a stitch develops - simply because their breathing becomes 'out of sink'. The way to stop a 'stitch' is to try exhale every 2nd time your left foot touches the ground. This helps to get your breathing rythmical - ofcourse one does need to be fairly fit to be able to maintain a steady breathing rate. But that will come.
For now just focus on that left foot, don't talk, and run slow enough!
Also don't drink or eat within 50 minutes of running. Not good to run on entirely empty stomach - you'll burn just as much muscle fibre as fat!
Thanks very much for your post. You are absolutely right, looking back, I think those were stitches.
I do not remember much how my breathing was - except that I breathed in and out through nose while running. I was not talking to anyone because I was away from my colleagues.
I will try your left-foot-breathing technique next time.
I also wonder if I could stop and do something to fix it and then continue with your left-foot-breathing techinique to avoid stitches again in the race. Is there any "fix" that could use the next time? Or are you saying that the left-foot-breathing is the fix?
I wasn't running too fast. It wasn't really possible to run fast even if I tried. There were more than 10,000 people running. It took me 2 minutes and 15 seconds to reach the start line
after the race had started.
I remember clearly than in less than 5 minutes into running, I started to have stitches and the lasted for the rest of the race.
I completed the 5.6 km run in 36.15 minutes - which I thought was much better than I had expected given the non-stop stitches, a serious shoulder injury and blood blister on foot sole. So, no, I wasnt running fast.
Thanks once again for your suggestions. I am trying to give you enough info so that you could suggest further.
