Do you ever get stomach discomfort while you are out running? I'm quite sure that your answer is, yes.
And if you haven't yet gone through this, you will eventually.
Every runner goes through this occasionally.
It comes with the territory.
This stomach discomfort can range between being an annoying sharp pain on the side or a sudden urgency to empty your bowel.
Below are a couple common stomach problems that you may run into while you are out there, as well as a couple tips on how to alleviate them.
Sharp, sudden stomach pains while running - You may have experienced when you particularly have pre-race nerves.
This causes you to swallow a lot of air.
This results in a sudden, sharp pain which you normally feel in your side but you can also feel it in your chest.
Chewing gum and drinking carbonated beverages can also cause the same problem, so you might want to avoid them.
Eat a healthy balanced meal, and chew slowly with your mouth closed so you don't swallow any air.
To calm your pre-race nerves, take deep slow breaths through your nose while stretching.
The sudden need to go to the bathroom mid-run - Your gut receives less blood when you run (it's being supplied to the legs).
This causes poor GI function, slowing digestion.
If at this point you eat foods that require a lot of work to digest, it can cause this sudden need to go.
One thing you can do to prevent this from happening is to avoid high fiber foods before and during your runs.
It can cause bulky, loose stools.
The problem can also be caused by drinking coffee, which has been known to stimulate the digestive tract, so avoid these when you go out running.
Lastly, you want to avoid too many carbohydrates during your run.
You should not take no more than 60 grams per hour.
The sudden need to go to the bathroom when not running - Read the food labels of what you typically eat.
The culprit might be gluten.
Gluten a wheat protein that some people can't digest.
Eat gluten-free products for a week to see if the condition improves.
If it doesn't consult your doctor.
You might have a more serious digestive problem, such as irritable bowel syndrome or colon polyps, which require treatment.