Pain in the lower abdomen when I drink water during my training, how to solve it?

Question

Some of you know I like to run... mostly 5-10 km, but I want to hit a marathon in the future so I increase the distance.

From time to time, I try to reach 20 km in one go. I last tried this yesterday. Unfortunately, I didn't consider the weather and stopped on the 13th km dehydrated. I didn't bring water with me because drinking during the training meant an immediate stop.

A few minutes after sipping the water I feel sharp pain in my lower abdomen and have to rest at least half an hour. I was examined by doctor and they found nothing, no reason to feel like that when drinking water during training.

So maybe any of you can share your experience and recommend what should I do or check? Running in higher temperatures without water seems more like suicide than relaxing exercise...

Help?

exitseven · Accepted Answer

Hi Isla. I would suggest hydrating before you run if you are not doing that already. You need to recognize the symptoms of dehydration. You stop sweating for one thing. You feel dizzy because you have lost electrolytes. Shallow breathing and rapid heartbeat can also occur. It never happened to me but I suppose that drinking cold water if you were dehydrated could cause abdominal cramps. There are water packs that you could use to bring water on your route. I drank Gatorade as a electrolyte replacement. I would drink one before my run. I would dilute it with water. Then I would have another one afterwards.

If it gets worse you should see the doc again but I imagine it is not serious.

BoopBoopBeep · Accepted Answer

You should be sipping constantly not drinking mouthfuls like you would if you just got finished and are slamming a bottle down. Just enough to keep your mouth wet, then a little more. I used to get the same thing on long races until my coach shared that little nugget if information with me. Physiologically what causes it? Don't know. I know when I F up and do it on a summer marathon or half I'll get that sharp pain but when I barely sip it and keep it frequent instead I don't get it.

Congrats on your training though. I don't know if I ever said that to you or not.

msmissydc · Accepted Answer

Hm... dont know. I DO know that lack of electrolytes can cause cramping. So yes the dehydration can cause it, maybe a late reaction before the body was able to process water. Other than that guess I have no idea.

laly520 · Accepted Answer

u need to take few sips of water n hydrate slowly n maybe try adjusting ur body posture while drinking water during ur training

Massageman · Answer

Sip, run, sip, run, sip, run. Not run, run, run, gulp, keel over. Run, run, run, gulp, keel over.

molonski2 · Answer

Well we run here in high temperatures always and massive humidity , I run with a back pack that includes a big water bottle there is absolutely NO WAY you could complete even the 10k without water.
In your case you were completely dehydrated, this was the issue , never even consider running without water , no matter what temperature.
Same as the gym.

BadApple69 · Answer

Sorry I’ve got nothing for you…. I only run when I am chased, and I am too big and mean to be chased lol

strateguy632 · Answer

good you went to doctor to rule out inflammation. it might have been a stronger than usual gas bubble inside.

Lynx122 · Answer

I don't know I've never experienced something like this. But you should definitely try drinking in between, people who run marathons drink on the way too so I don't think it's smart to go without.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

i think it's dehydration. i sometimes get the same feeling in my kidneys

fuddly · Answer

We used to call a "stitch" https://www. abc. net. au/news/health/2017-11-01/9089048

In_Trance · Answer

Stop drinking water while you train

Pain in the lower abdomen when I drink water during my training, how to solve it?

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