Stop the Side Stitch

I remember being in middle school, making my second lap around the track during our annual physical fitness tests. I was always one of the slowest kids, and hated it. I was determined not to come in last place. Onward I went, breathing heavily but keeping pace. Then it hit.

This awful, sharp pain in my side struck and nearly stopped me in my tracks completely. As I slowed to a walk, I wondered if I was going to die (pre-teen girls are always so melodramatic). I had my first side stitch.

Jenny Hadfield of the Coach Jenny column in Runners World recently covered side stitches, and shared some tips on how to stop them:

• Eat mindfully pre-run
• Invest in a solid warmup
• Regulate your breathing
• Slow down and exhale to release the stitch

Read more of Coach Jenny's side stitch advice at Runners World.

Do you experience side stitches? How to you relieve the pain?