Am i pushing to hard? Aweful cramps

[ljadamsuk]

Hi guys, I'm new here! I have just completed the couch to 5k, super proud of myself! I haven't actually been able to get as far as 5K but I've been running non stop for half an hour and covering about 2.8miles. On Wednesday I tried the 'stepping stones' I started to get a distant stomach ache half way through, but carried on...24 minutes in when it then was about to up the pace slightly for the last 5 minutes my stomach started getting worse so i slowed down and walked about 8 mins home...my stomach was cramping up SO badly, I felt sick and light headed, hands were shaking. I literally fell through the front door and was in AGONY...i had to lay with my legs up against the wall, I then had diarrhoea and vomited (sorry for the graphic'ness) I had some salt and water and after about 10 minutes the feelings went away - left me feeling rough for the rest of the day though.

This has happened twice before, once when i tried doing some HIITS with my friend and once when I'd attempted running up a hill in the freezing cold frosty weather - at the time i remember trying to look on the net and somewhere said about lack of salt? So i've been having a little drink of salt and sugar before a run.

I didn't really feel that stepping stones was going any faster than my usual pace.

Does anyone else get this? Or know why this happens? The stomach cramp is right down low in my stomach (almost like period cramps)

Any info would be awesome as I don't want this to start putting me off running as I'm starting to really enjoy it!

Thanks, Lauren

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Good daily hydration may make a difference.

The NHS recommend a minimum of 1.2litres per day. If you are exercising you need considerably more. I drink well in excess of double that recommendation. The intake needs to be spread evenly throughout the day.

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Don't know the reason but it does sound like it happens when you push it. Most people seem to recommend consolidating the 30 minute runs for a few weeks before moving on to stepping stones or trying to go longer or faster so maybe try that?

[EmmaC250]

I get the same thing it's agony! I haven't found a solution tbh it's known as runners trots! The only thing I can do is slow down at the first twinge even to a walk then build up. A friend who does marathons suggested that dehydration is the most likely culprit and well as gulping in air so focus on breathing. I don't get this at all on the elliptical so I think it's the physical action of runnning that is the cause, I agree it's very off putting I actually took a break recently firm doing longer runs having got to the end of C25K and mixed in some cross trainer, shorter runs and bike just so I didn't become too fed up with it to actually not go excercise.