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Hi all,

So this evening was meant to be week 7 run 2 for me. Up until now, every run has been manageable and gone really well (some might even say it's been fun!) but tonight I seemed to hit my stumbling block and I wasn't able to finish the run due to a recurrent stitch.

It was all going well until 12 minutes into the 25 min run when I felt sudden pain all down one side of my stomach and I simply couldn't carry on. Normally I seem to have quite a high pain threshold but this one was painful stitch! I did try to continue the run after pausing and taking some deep breaths but it came back everytime I started to run again. In the end I had to stop for 5mins and then walked home with my tail between my legs.

Has anyone else had this problem? If so, any tips on how to relieve the stich to continue the run and how to stop it demotivating you?

I get awful stitches like that sometimes. I have to slow down to a walk, put my arms over my head and stretch that crampy side, and make sure to take deep breaths. It helps, but once I've got a cramp that bad, it tends to keep coming back. Sometimes there is just nothing for it!

Did you eat or drink before your run? Were you talking/coughing/breathing unevenly during? All those things can contribute to a stitch. And sometimes, more infrequently, they just happen regardless. It is very demotivating, but remember that it happens to everyone now and then. All you can do is get out there next time and try again.

Thanks for the advice Starknut, glad to hear i'm not the only one. I think it got my by surprise more than anything!

I don't think I was breathing unevenly but I did have some diet coke about half an hour before I went out so I think maybe that was the culprit grrr. I'm going to give it another go tomorrow and crossed fingers there won't be any more stitches for me

I did read that if you change the foot you're landing on whilst exhaling it can relieve a stitch- is this something you've ever tried?

No, actually I've never even heard of that! I will have to give it a try next time I get a stitch I can't simply run through.