cramps/pain while running?

Ruick · 11-22-2005, 06:33 PM

I run about 1-1.5 miles every tues/thurs. while running my legs feel fine and everything but sometimes i get pain around the lower portion of my stomach (cramps?). What is causing these and how can i reduce it? Does that mean i am not running enough weekly or what?

mahalo · 11-22-2005, 06:45 PM

could be that this is the first time you've run in a while.

Ruick · 11-22-2005, 07:08 PM

well todays tuesday, last time i ran was thursday. should i run more often?

deadpool · 11-22-2005, 07:18 PM

Could be anything- not enough water, too much water, too soon after drinking/eating. Why do you need to run?

Brand Nizzle · 11-22-2005, 07:25 PM

IMO the things that cause cramps and whatnot is your diet. If I eat a lot of crappy foods and a lot of greasy foods the next time I work out I feel shitty and might get cramps. Cramps are horrible I hate them.

Ruick · 11-22-2005, 07:29 PM

i ate a banana, drank some emergen-c then ran 10-15mins after that. earlier in the day i had a tuna sandwich, and a granola bar.

why am i running? well wrestling practice starts friday, and coach says were going to run alot. want to get a head start to make sure i can run however long he wants us to run.

dogmai · 11-22-2005, 10:42 PM

if I were you I wouldn't eat or drink so close to a workout. Try to drink plenty of water all the time you have before you run, then stop like an hour before you run. Also stay away from salty greasy foods. I cramp up like a motherfucker if I'm not careful what I eat and when.

LPF4 · 11-23-2005, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogmai

if I were you I wouldn't eat or drink so close to a workout. Try to drink plenty of water all the time you have before you run, then stop like an hour before you run. Also stay away from salty greasy foods. I cramp up like a motherfucker if I'm not careful what I eat and when.

2nd the above.

Eat at least an hour before you run. Okay to sip some water until you run, but don't drink 8 oz and then run 5 minutes later.

Also, how do I say this.................. I make sure I take a good dump so my stomachs not full from dinner or breakfast (I run at lunch). I usually eat an apple, yogurt and 4oz (measured dry) of oatmeal. That always works for me.

desertbake · 11-23-2005, 05:14 PM

Also, check your breathing patterns. I notice that sometimes if I start cramping up if I focus on deep breathing and visualizing breathing to the area of my torso that this can make them go away.

bacon · 11-23-2005, 05:17 PM

What you're experiencing is a side stitch. Apparently, and I just read this recently, most people exhale when their right foot hits the ground and this causes strain on your (medical term here). According to Menshealth, in their column titled "18 things you should teach your body now" exhaling as your left foot hits the ground will help prevent this cramp. I think the article is still on the menshealth web site.

Good luck