Advice/Encouragement Needed (side stiches)

[eli]

Hey everyone, 

I'm on week 6 of C25K after a few years off from running. Up until week 5, things were going great and running with the stroller has been fine. Starting last week I've been getting horrible side stitches on my right side. Things I've tried: making sure I don't eat a huge breakfast or not eating at all, exhaling when my left food hits the ground (tried exhaling slowly/tried exhaling quickly), making sure I take deep breaths into my belly (not sure if I'm failing at this), trying to make sure my posture is ok (I have a weak core right now, so this could be the culprit), slowing down my running pace (seriously people could walk faster than I'm running! yikes), and trying to make sure I'm hydrated enough. 

I'm seriously super embarrassed that I'm getting such horrible side stitches! The first two runs it happened, I slowed down to a walk and stretched it out and then pushed on it and they went away. Then I had to redo those two days in the C25K program, which made me frustrated, so now I've just been slowing down, but still running through them. I feel like such a loser and so out of shape and while I'm running, I'm cursing myself for being so lazy since my son was born and not wanting to run ever again (I have a goal of running a marathon someday- I've only ever run a 1/2). 

Part of me wonders if when I first got back into running I was just having fun and enjoying it and now I am WAY over thinking everything and psyching myself out.

So... is there anything I'm missing that I should be trying? Is it just a matter of pushing through until I get into better shape? Is it bad that I'm running through them? (Dr. Google seems to suggest that I stop running, but I don't want to 'fail' at that training day). Am I completely hopeless? 

I remember getting side stitches when I started training for my half years ago, but don't really remember how I got them to go away!

Thanks ladies! I don't talk to anyone IRL about my running, so it's great to have people here to ask. 

[Wines Not Whines]

I don't think there's anything wrong with running through side stitches, if you can. I think they can happen for different reasons. You've already thought about breathing, food, and hydration, which seem to be 3 of the biggest reasons. For me personally, I often get side stitches when my electrolytes are out of whack. It usually happens when I sweat a lot during the summer. I have to drink something with electrolytes (like gatorade or nuun). I don't know if that could be your issue, but if you're sweating a lot, maybe try a sports drink and see if it helps.

[shorty20]

It could be your breathing.  Check out this article from Runners World, I thought it was interesting.  I get bad stitches too sometimes, and I tried using the techniques mentioned in the article and I didn't get a stitch.  I haven't tried it on a regular basis yet, but I'm hoping to.

www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/running-air-breathing-technique

[eli]

Thanks, ladies! I'll check out the article and I definitely don't think I'm replenishing my electrolytes well either!

[mrsjthompson]

I don't get side stitches regularly, but DH does. This seemed to help him: When you are belly breathing, try to exhale sort of hard while you are stepping with the foot on the same side of the stitch.  It might take one or two tries, but he always seems to be able to get rid of it that way.

[eli]

I've been doing the exact opposite, mrsjthompson. Thanks for the tip. I'll try it next time!

[eli]

shorty20 you pretty much changed my life! Did the 3-2 breathing today during my run and no side stitch! Well, I developed one toward the end of my run but only because I stopped thinking about my breathing and went back to my usual 3-3 patten. Thank you so much!! I'm hoping that really solved it!

[shorty20]

Jul 10, 2013 12:21:40 GMT -5 eli said:

shorty20 you pretty much changed my life! Did the 3-2 breathing today during my run and no side stitch! Well, I developed one toward the end of my run but only because I stopped thinking about my breathing and went back to my usual 3-3 patten. Thank you so much!! I'm hoping that really solved it!

Haha, well thanks, but really it was Runners World

Glad it seems to be working for you, I did it last night on my run and no stitch!