How to Get Rid of a Side Stitch
So you want to go from Couch to 5K, like, yesterday. That’s awesome! You’re chugging along, humming Eye of the Tiger, when it happens…the sharp stab of the side stitch. Reminiscences of your former glory days as a (j.v.) gridiron, instantly dashed. Through the window, the knowing din of your honey’s spatula rapping against the casserole dish seems, today, bitingly vindictive (you are still in the driveway).
The side stitch is awful. Here’s how to get rid of it – and never get another one.
1. Warm up, smarty. Side stitches are caused by different factors, but having cold, tense muscles doesn’t help. You don’t have to stretch before a workout (I know, crazy), but you should at least do some push-ups or jumping jacks or jog up and down the stairs a few times before setting out to strut your fine self. Puff up that chest a wee bit.
2. Drink water. Often, a side stitch is caused by dehydration. Flush those organs with some fluids, baby! Drink at least one large glass of water before you hit the road (or the track).
3. Breathe right! Side stitches can be brought on by what basically amounts to your internal organs slapping around. But stitches can also be caused by improper breathing technique. Make sure that you take deep, quality breaths at regular intervals. Beyond this, you’ll want to be sure you squeeze out every last bit of air when fighting a side stitch. Slow down a bit. Don’t lean forward so much. Relax and let your breathing and your body synchronize. Loosen your hips, bend your knees, and open your chest. Breathe plenty of air in, and then make sure you squiiiiiish it completely out before sucking down another gulp. The more you run, the easier this will get. (Breathing through your nose can help, too.)
4. Don’t gorge and run. This should go without saying, but avoid anything excessively caloric or fatty right before a run. Go with something that contains complex carbohydrates, like a few big bites of aforementioned honey’s left-over stir fry, a quality granola bar, or a handful of almonds. Do not, for example, eat deep-fried pizza before attempting a run.
5. Don’t try to be such a rock star. When starting an exercise program, the temptation is to push it. Start slow. There’s nothing embarrassing about only jogging an easy mile or having to stop to catch your breath every few blocks. What’s embarrassing is doing nothing at all.
Good advice, but I’ve got one addition. Not only do you want to breathe at regular intervals (hopefully everyone is doing that), but you really want to exhale on every other left foot strike. This seems really weird at first but you’ll get the hang of it after a while and it will keep you from getting a stitch in the first place.
deep fried pizza??!?!? urgh…