Cramps while running

[JoshM]

Does anybody else get these?

Fairly often while I'm running I'll get stitches in my sides and shoulder cramps. The stitches in my sides will get so bad sometimes that I can't breathe unless I stop running. Stretching helps occasionally, but not all of the time.
Is there anything I can do to help this?

[EaglesLax22]

i ran cross country and what i learned is just push through the pain and it usually goes away after awhile

[Mad-Max]

My friend also cramps up very easily. I was told to forcefully breath out, it will occasionally work, hope it helps.

[Project X]

I used to cramp almost every time I ran (still cramp sometimes but not so often) one thing I was told was when you get cramps, put your hands above your head or just as high as you can get them, and kind of stretch out when you have any little break. It worked pretty well for me, I'd recommend you trying just putting your hands above your head unless of course you are in a game or scrim or something, then I'd just try to stretch out a bit when there is a break in the action.

[infamous]

Exhale every three steps. This will make it so that everytime u exhale it wont be on the same side, which casues cramps.

[faceitoff]

I just grab the ouchy spot and squeeze the hell out of it.

[Talent223]

I know that a lot the time, cramps are caused by dehydration. So just drink some water and relax and it will go away in a little while.

[OldGoalie]

Make sure to hydrate well before your running (i.e. 1-2 hours before running.)

[JoshM]

i ran cross country and what i learned is just push through the pain and it usually goes away after awhile
I've tried. But like I said, it gets to the point where I can't breathe.

It may be that I'm not hydrating enough before I run. I'll try that out, thanks.

[BeaverFondu]

Stop eating before you work out.

[ZeroV]

1. Don't eat or drink directly before you run, if you can avoid it
2. Breathe, breathe, breathe and breathe s'more
3. If you can just run right through it, it'll go away, if it gets to the point where you can't breathe, that's not the stitch doing it, it's your own cardio system
4. Run a lot and it'll go away
5. Run s'more and it'll be non-existant

[marflax33]

eat bananas and drink lots of water.

[wrwarrior19]

For sure drink lots of water. If your pee is yellow, you're dehydrated. I personally try for one gallon per day. It's a good goal, but I have to use the bathroom a lot.

[JoshM]

But the thing is, I'm not tired at all when it happens.

[ZeroV]

Then you'll be able to keep running! It might not be an aspect of your muscular endurance, like I said, it could be your cardio system. If you're not tired, then just try and run through it.

[LongIslandLax]

If you're like most people, when you run, you exhale as your right foot hits the ground. This puts downward pressure on your liver (which lives on your right side), which then tugs at the diaphragm and creates a side stitch. The fix: Exhale as your left foot strikes the ground.

[WSWDpole33]

take deep breaths in through the nose, out the mouth, also if u start gettin cramps, put ur arms like on ur head, it opens ur lungs more and allows more oxygen to be used. also, dont think about the pain or the cramp, think of something like a hot girl in ur school or a funny thing u heard today. everything helps that i said.

[TNlaxFRHSmid]

eat bananas and drink lots of water.
i agree totally..it works for me

[AttackSniper#12]

what i do is when i get a cramp while "JOGGING" i sprint or run faster than i am. and if im sprinting and i get a cramp the last thing you want to do is jog. and when you get a cramp ignore it and stay at the same pace you are now and dont change anything. hope it helps! :thumbsup: