Preventing a stitch!

[badgerread]

I'm on the last day of couch to 5k with a beginners running group and tonight is the first night we'll be running 5k. Without walking!! however the last couple of sessions I've done I've got a bad stitch halfway though.

Is there anything I can do to help prevent this?

Leave at least 1.5 hours between eating and running. 2 if it's your main meal.

And well done on getting this far. I'm doing this with dd13 as she does little else during the day but needs to be fit for skiing.

agree with previous poster.
don't eat directly before the run.
I need at least 2 hours without food and one hour without drink before running.
also, if I encounter stitches whilst running I concentrate on breathing for a while - 4 steps breathing out 2 steps breathing in.

good luck and congratulations on finishing c25k!

As pps said, don't eat before you run. Lots of people say two hours, but I need 5/6 hours between eating and running, to avoid feeling sick or getting a stitch. Luckily I've adapted very well to running fasted!

I’ve been reading up on this as my teenage DS is getting a stitch from just walking now. The main cause seems to be dehydration, and for reasons they don’t really understand, sugary drinks.