I wake up in the morning, take a few sips of a sports drink, stretch for about 5 minutes and head out the door for a run. After about 1/2 mile my stomach area begins cramping usually only on the right side just under the rib cage. This isn't a "side stitch", it is in the front. Sometimes I push on the area, and end up burping a lot -but it rarely brings relief. I really enjoy running, but once this cramping starts it is miserable. Any tips, solutions, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Q: What can I do to stop stomach cramps when running?
Answers (2)
9/17/08 5:37pm
A really common complaint.
So if it is lactic acid accumulating because you are pushing hard and raising your heart rate quickly (so you build up lactic acid as a by-product of the Kreb cycle chemical reaction)- you might try running for 7-8 minutes, slowly building up your pace - THEN stop and stretch (since warm muscles stretch far better0 then again, build up your pace over 5-6 minutes and see if the stretch break and slow "build up" to pace helps.
If it is dietary related - for example, my daughter a junior tennis player constantly developed cramps with aerobic activity and we found that cutting out carbonated drinks from her diet - cured the cramps - so that's another possibility.
10/27/08 10:17pm
I've found that Breathing also works If you inhale and Exhale some times depending on who you are my friends have to inhale and Exhale Fast and deeply but I only have to inhale and Exhale slowly so I guess you could try other things you can think of Oh and also Raising your arms and deeply and slowly inhaling and Exhale it helps
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By samandandy— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 09/15/08
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