Neighbourhood Jaunt
Today's run was very satisfying. Before I met up with my running buddy I focused on my breathing; I learned interesting things about how breathing while running affects your internal organs. Now that I understand a little better how my body works, I find the little physical aches and pains to be tolerable and not at all discouraging.
I also explored new neighbourhoods that I'd never been in, and I played at a playground for a few minutes - they have little spin-around toys I didn't have when I was a girl. It's a basin that you sit in and someone spins you around; not only does it go in circles, but it also tilts on its axis so you get a really dizzying feeling.
I didn't push myself too hard so my pace wasn't great, but I enjoyed myself. It is getting easier, and now that I know how to breathe the side-stitches I used to get are not nearly as bad now.
Comments
When I was a girl, I usually spent my playground time either in the coat closet because I'd been bad or under a tree with a book, so I'm making up for lost time now. :)
I read on a website (I'll dig up a link and send it to you) that one reason for side-stitches is a spasm in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is attached to the internal organs by connective tissue, and some theorise that if you exhale (which is when your diaphragm is rising and tightening) while your foot is landing, that connective tissue is pulled tight, and causes a stitch.
So I started experimenting with belly-breathing, making sure not to breathe too shallow, and alternate which foot is landing when I both inhale and exhale. Totally unscientific, but it seems to be working for me.