Anyone familiar with this term? When I was in high school, I would get this awful pain in my side. My mom would tell me to quit whining and keep going (I love her for that!). Well, I had not had that since H.S. .... until this past weekend. I was on the run part of a Half IM and got the same pains in my side just like back in H.S. I told a friend about it that night and she called it side stitch. She said that it has something to do with your breathing and which foot is hitting the pavement when you're exhaling. Something about the diaphragm and how much it bounces based on which foot is pounding the pavement. Whoa! Never thought about this! How could it be that I managed to make it all these years without that pain and I get it in the middle of my first half IM??? Seriously! The odds are not very good here. Can anyone help me with other reasons this may have happened? Or maybe even explain this phenomenom to me?? Thanks!!! Happy Training!! :cool:
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The answer...
Okay, did some research...here's the answer to my question in case anyone else has this problem...
THE SIDE STITCH
Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
You're running at a fast clip and suddenly you feel a dull ache underneath your ribs on your right side. The pain worsens as you keep running and disappears when you stop.
A side stitch is caused by stretching the ligaments that extend from your diaphragm to hold up your liver. Humans breathe out once every two steps. More than 70 percent of humans breath out when their left foot hits the ground, while 30 percent breathe out when their right foot hits the ground. Those who breathe out when their right foot hits the ground are the ones most likely to suffer side stitches because the force of the right foot strike causes the liver to go down and stretch when their diaphragm goes up as you breathe out. When you get a side stitch, stop running immediately, reach your fingers into the right side of your belly and push your liver up. And breathe out with you lips pursed at the same time. Then you can resume running without feeling any pain.
that's NEAT!
VERY interesting!! that side stitch ruined my last race. it lasted 3.1 miles (funny, that was the distance of the run...;)) i tried to just breathe out through pursed lips, but it remained. thanks for the great info!
:) annie
This may help, it's somewhat related and interesting all the same: [url]http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0979.htm[/url]
Been there ... my first 3 tri's I suffered the awful side stitch...
top 10% out of the water...
top 30% off the bike...
70-80% in my age group finished the run faster than I did...
Started breathing on my left foot strike... this really works!
I found that what worked even better was for me was to alternate breathing (side and frequency).
'wonder if going from a hunched over position on the bike and then to a stretched out position during the run might contribute??
I am going to start doing more core exercises as well to strengthen the whole mid section... I've read that can help the situation.
Good Luck!
Matt
Thanks! Great article! I am training for an off season marathon right now, so I appreciate the extra information! Funny thing...I thought I was past the whole side stitch gig, until a long run on Saturday. I guess you really let yourself get lazy and off focus after 15 or so miles! :D
Anyone else doing the Las Vegas Marathon?