Happy & Healthy

HERE IS A FEELING EVERYONE CAN RECOGNIZE…

Five hundred meters later and you find yourself having to take a breather. Shit. This is killing.

We’ve all had it before (during P.E. when we were little or during our run around the block last night). A pain gnawing at your side: a stitch. Science has yet to indicate precisely where it comes from, but the odds are that it’s a combination of various factors and experienced athletes experience it a lot less than beginners.

But what can we do achieve that pain-free couple of kilometers? I’ve lined up a couple of tips for you.

– Work on your breathing technique

We have the tendency to change the way we breathe depending on the speed we’re running in. We equal the number of steps that we take to how much we inhale and exhale. But what would be a lot better is if we inhale during three steps and exhale during two. You’ll realize the side pains will decrease and you’ll avoid injuries in the lower parts of your body.

– Don’t eat or drink too much before or during a run

Avoid drinks that contain sugars but if you do have them, combine them with water. Your body isn’t use to the combination of glucose and exertion. Stay hydrated, but do it with just plain water instead.

– Adapt your speed

Build up your running speed. Especially when you’re a newbie it’s important not to start off too fast. Feeling a side stitch coming up? Lower your tempo, but don’t drop the beat.

– Train your core

Having strong abs help when you’re a fan of running. Especially our all time favorite, the plank, is a winner. I know: not fun, but this just happens to train all those muscles that are causing the side stitch.

– Stretching

Still got the side stitch? Breathe in and out deeply a couple of times, put your arms on your side and stretch them out to the front. Repeat this while you’re walking and then build up your speed again.

And keep running, ladies, don’t let it get to you. There will come a day that all your runs will be stitch-less. And until then, you can just think of me.