Running "stitch"

[Butkin]

DD (who is 9) did a Triathlon last week - shooting, swimming, running.

We let have lunch (sandwiches, drink) after swimming but made sure she'd finished at least 1 1/2 hours before her run. She went really well in the run but complained she'd had a "stitch" from half way and this didn't help her time.

She is doing the same events again on Saturday - shoot at 10.30 / swim at 12.30 / run at 1.30

When do you think she should eat and any ideas about what foods will avoid a "stitch". I've mentioned bananas but she isn't keen!

She needs to warm up properly before she starts to exercise.

I think you should leave it at least 2 hours between her last meal and her Triathlon. A stomach full of food or drink is notorious for triggering stitches.

We do try and get her to warm up but not much time between events - especially when we have to drive her from the pool to the running place.

She warms up in the pool for 5 mins before her swim which is only 90 seconds but they go flat out because it is all about the distance swam.

Before the run we walk the cross country course and she jogs and stretches but I agree it probably isn't enough.

Trouble is she is always starving after the swim - she can hardly stand through exhaustion!

we have a three hour rule - and this included milk type drinks.

We have tried other things but the three hours is the only surefire way.

If you feed her up plenty the night/day before and a lot of carbs on the morning but early on and slow realise carbs weetbix milk and beans on toast and not protein that may work.

dd does tri's but swim, cycle run and one after the other with the clock ticking.

She won't actually need many calories after a maximum 90seconds exercise, the exhaustion she's feeling is not related to a calorie deficit (nor would carbo loading previously make much difference to such a short pair of exercise bouts - assuming the shooting is not aerobic). Her core is not strong enough to keep all her orgains organised, food is not really the cause, it's just because that makes them heavier. So some core strengthening exercises will help that. No food will really help avoid it - since it's purely the weight of food/water that influences it, although the smallest highest calorie foods that satiate the hunger demands will have the least effect.

Otherwise you should probably just teach her some management techniques, to get rid of it once it appears - e.g. here

Really interesting Fred - thanks for the link.

I'm not a runner so apologies for lurking, this came into active convo's.

When doing sports with DS & friends & observing myself have always come to the conclusion that a 'stitch' is to do with breathing, taking shallow breaths.

Have googled just now to check & think it is a common reason.

There is a theory that a stitch can be related to the liver and that if you establish a pattern of breathing whereby you start to exhale as your left foot hits the ground this can prevent a stitch even starting.

I have done a lot of running and find that this does make a difference but whether it is just that you are more aware and in control of your breathing or is actually due to which foot hits the ground as you start to exhale I don't know.

Worth a try though.

Just to let you know that she didn't get a stitch in the running this time. She didn't eat for a couple of hours before the swimming and nothing before the running. She also warmed up a little bit (in the pouring rain) with some stretches.

She did well and was particularly pleased to hit a 10 (bullseye) in the pistol shooting as this was the first time she'd shot in competition.