Help! What caused this?! 😓

[dreamrun]

I evicted the gremlins that moved in on Saturday and ploughed on to CR2, choosing a new route. Two laps which incorporate a hill as well, I slowed down to tackle the uphill. After, there is then a nice, flat stretch of a whole kilometre to recover (thankfully) before a glorious downhill.

Only, it wasn’t glorious. I ensured to slow my downhill pace to match my normal average kilometre speed as I didn’t want to get carried away (not usually a hill runner). When I reached the bottom, I had a stitch, or something similar. I know it sounds hyperbolic, but it is the first stitch of my running career I’ve ever had. I stopped briefly, stretched and continued and it diminished.

However, in the second downhill, about half way down, it returned with a very painful vengeance. It spread up the right side of my ribs and I slowed to a walk to stretch it out again. But it continued, snaking upwards into my back, all the way up to my shoulder and the back of my neck. I broke back into a slow jog, and there it spread to the other side of my ribs, and then my entire chest all the way up to my throat! A horrible stitch feeling.

Why did this happen both times on the downhill? As I said, the first time I’ve ever had a stitch since childhood. I managed my speed according to my Garmin. I took it slow on the uphill, and steadily built back speed on the 1K plateau thereafter.

Any help greatly appreciated, as ouch!

[grumpyoldgirl]

First thought - did you run too soon after a meal?Second thought - do you need a new sports bra?

First thought self-explanatory.

Second thought - this happened to me! From not doing doing much exercise to becoming a runner - I can only assume that I was suddenly expanding my ribcage more than before, and half way through a run I suddenly got what I thought was a stitch. Two runs later I realised it was the bra. New bra, problem solved.

Another thought is you might be too tense maybe in your shoulders? So make sure your shoulders are relaxed, sort of back and down, when you run.

Only you know if any of that rings a bell, but don't run with an injury whatever you do.

[roseabi]

I quite often get what I think of as abdominal cramp rather than stitch, although it does fall within the definition of stitch as it is a sharp pain just below the innermost part of my right ribcage. I find it is always worse when I run downhill, and it sometimes even goes away when I run UP a hill! I think this is because my abdominal muscles are stretched and strained much more by the downhill-running posture, and I do find it helps to try and hunch over a little as I run downhill. Short, sharp deep-belly breaths also help, but I often need to just stop and walk for a bit - which is extremely annoying when on a lovely downhill stretch!!

Cramp itself I think comes on when muscles get tired, and I try to work on strengthening that area, when I remember 😂

What you are describing is obviously different to my cramp, although I think the specific changes to motion required for running downhill could have brought on your problem - and you mentioned that you don't run hills very often.

The exact cause of stitch has not been established, there are various hypotheses e.g. see this article: runnersconnect.net/side-sti...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

Thank you!!!! That describes what I have had a couple of times recently! Downhill!!! Not stitch...and I usually touch my toes and I do the belly breathing too... Thanks you!

[roseabi in reply to Oldfloss]

Are you familiar with the T'ai Chi posture? The hips are slightly tucked under, with tension in the abs - I always think of that when I have this problem going downhill.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

No..I need to look it up!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to roseabi]

But I am a bit aware of my posture again, whilst running, so much so, that I have asked J to take some rapid shots on his camera as he did ages ago ( my flying feet photo) :)It showed then that I was quite round shouldered when I ran...

The shots helped me focus on areas for improvement.. he has been getting his camera all ready for if we are able to head out onto the High Peak Trail tomorrow! Snow forecast there on Thursday so we are going tomorrow!