Discussion: Stomach Cramps

Just wondering what are some good ways to get rid of stomach cramps. Thanks.

Depends what's causing them, no? Might be eating too much too soon before running.

If you're just getting a side stitch, try exhaling when you step with the opposite leg.

These have both made a difference for me.

Elaborate on stomach cramp.

The two simplest things are:
* Don't eat too much before exercise - specifically of protein, fat and fibre (either stops you up or speeds you up depending on the type). If you do want a snack make it easily digestible (simple) carbs.
* Make sure you are well hydrated before exercise (but don't drink too much water near the actual exercise).

But there can be more complicated problems/answers...

there was a topic on this last spring which had alot of good ideas for me...u could go and look for that but i suggest the breathing on the oppisite leg and watch what u eat about 2 hours befreo u eat

Could you send me the link to that page please, I can't find it. Thanks. Or atleast the name of it.

I tried stretching out my stomach, it worked really well...no cramps. :)

Ditto on what everyone else said. I find that when I'm better trained, I'm less prone to cramps than when I'm not trained. When untrained, I'll get stitches, cramps, or gas pains; but when trained, I can eat basically whenever and while it may slow me down slightly, it doesn't interfere with my running otherwise.
I don't think I buy in to this, but some of the Danes I ran with this summer said that you should train on a full stomach, so that your body gets used to it and you're then able to race with more food in you. I guess this would reduce your need for food supplements during longer races.

It's not the same thing, but Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky (our local adventure racing sports nutrition expert) says that you should get used to eating and drinking while training so that your body can handle it in long races. Of course, he's talking about small food items like gels, chocolate bars and handfuls of cashews.

I will try that, thanks.

Graham are you really only 16?
Probably too young to worry about more serious reasons for abdominal pain.

But kidney stones come to mind. Do you stay adequately hydrated by drinking 4-8 glasses of water/day?

Uhhhh...i'm acyually 15. I'm also a very serious orienteer/runner so when I have an issue I want to know the answer. And yes, I do drink 4-8 glasses of water a day and I am pretty sure I don't have kidney stones.
Thanks though.