If you exercise a lot you probably experience stomach aches after running from time to time. This type of bad stomach ache can appear anytime during the running, directly after or after some time. The severity can differ and therefore you can feel more or less able to cope with it. Stomach aches after running isn’t unusual but happens a lot among people who exercise and it doesn’t have to be related to the grade of fitness. Alas, stomach aches after running isn’t to be seen as a sign of weakness or bad shape; it can have a lot of different reasons. The reasons for stomach aches after running can be divided into a number of groups or categories.
Stress. Stress is a factor that always affects your body and primarily your stomach. When you exercise you expose your body to a positive kind of stress as you try to run faster, lift heavier and endure more. Though, the wrong kind of stress during exercise can lead to stomach aches after running. Your exercise should be harmonic even if it’s pushing you to do more than you think you can. If you let troubles from, for example, your family, work or other aspects of your life get in the way of your training and distract your thought, this stress is negative. If you can’t concentrate on your exercise and running, you may get stomach aches after running.
Exercise technique. If you run or exercise with a wrong or unsuitable technique, this can cause your abdominal muscles to cramp which in turn can lead to stomach aches after running. For example, when running it’s important to let your arms swing at the sides of your body without tensing them too much. The elbow should be bent at an angle of 90 degrees. If you let your arms swing across the space in front of your body, your torso will be twisted a little with every step. This will lead your abdominal muscles to tense and you may find yourself suffering from stomach aches after running.
Food. Never eat too close before exercising. Most people know this, either by intuition or knowledge. But what if you get hungry right before exercising? A tough call, because you neither want to exercise hungry and powerless, neither eat before you run or what you are about to do. If you feel that you won’t be able to perform without any food, you can eat a fruit or drink a smoothie. Make sure you eat something that is easily digested because that kind of food will reduce the risk of getting stomach aches after running.
Water. To drink water, some sort of energy drink or something else directly before running isn’t a good idea. Sometimes you’ll feel the liquid move in your stomach and that is a first sign that you’ve prepared yourself for your exercise in an inappropriate way. Often you can just listen to your body’s outer and inner sounds to decide how it’s, and of course you’re, doing. To hear an amount of water move and splash around in your stomach while you’re running will probably cause you stomach aches after running. To drink too much can affect your body’s salt balance and in the worst case scenario be very dangerous. On the other hand, to drink too little can be risky too. Here you have to find a balance both to endure the exercise and not get dehydrated, and to avoid stomach aches after running.
Muscle cramps. Muscle cramps in the abdominal area are painful and if they continue after your exercise they will give you stomach aches after running. Many have experienced stomach cramps while running. These cramps often have their reason in bad habits when it comes to drinking and eating before running (you do this too close before the exercise so that your systems doesn’t get enough time to process the substances). To get a side stitch while running is a kind of stomach ache while running. This state is said to be relieved by holding a stone or another hard object in your hand. This probably works because you focus on something else and gradually your muscles around the cramping area can relax and the stitch goes away. To tense the muscles is the goal of most exercise but the wrong kind of tension can sometimes end in stomach aches after running and if this isn’t the wanted soreness that is a sign of your muscles rebuilding themselves, you’ve probably done something wrong before, during or after your exercise.
Nature calls. If you don’t listen to your body and follow its functions before you perform a heavy running pass or other kind of exercise, this lack of attention can cause you stomach aches after running. It’s very important to visit the toilet before running. This reason for stomach aches after running of course has a lot to do with the food and water categories above. It’s recommended by experts that you don’t eat closer than three hours before your exercise. If you don’t eat anything more during this time, you should be able to go to the toilet before you start your running exercise and by doing that you minimize the risk of getting stomach aches after running for a reason that is easily eliminated.
