I thought stitch can be brought on by not breathing properly to suit your bodies requirements. When you run downhill you tend not to breathe as hard because it 'seems' to be easier. However, it can be just as intensive as running uphill, so you get a stitch. Soon as you hit another hill it goes away because you then start to breath harder. So try hyperventilating on the descent. That explanation convinced me anyway, but then....
I'm not surprised you get a stitch if you're running half an hour after eating. I'd be throwing up never mind getting a stitch.
Make sure you are breathing properly using your diaphragm and not just your chest. This is more difficult to achieve when running downhill and won't be helped by a lot of food slopping up and down in your stomach.
Off-Road Running (Sarah Rowell) page 54
"... it is recommended that you leave between 2 to 4 hours between eating and hard exercise or competition".
This book should have sold more copies than every other book ever published on fellrunning added together.
It hasn't but as The Daily Telegraph once noted "fellrunners are not noted for their intelligence".
Trimm from what I understand, thats exactly what happens. The diaphragm is stretched more when leaning back and it pulls(via connective tissue)on the bones. As this muscle becomes conditioned to hard breathing, the pains should stop.
Eating so close to your run will decrease the intensity you can achieve, and reduce results. I suppose it depends on how much someone eats, and how hard they intend to train.
Regards
When you run downhill you tend not to breathe as hard because it 'seems' to be easier.[quote]
Fascinating, and true.
I need to have a lie down in a dark room. I agree with Christopher Leigh.
I don't think a stitch is something that regular runners encounter very much. However, I suffered from a bit of a stitch on the gradual, fast descents at Black Combe last weekend, which I put down to lack of downhill training and a lack of condition of stomach muscles.
Regarding eating, I have known runners who could run ok shortly after a meal. However the very idea makes me feel sluggish and I just can't see how your body is going to be in a state for good quality running at the same time as digesting a lot of food.
Last edited by NotOnUrHelly; 15-03-2008 at 09:33 PM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkkJC...eature=related - Wild Beasts