Gas-X (aka Miracle Pill!) > Side aches

I finished my last run of Week One today:

1/7/11 - Day 4: 5 miles in 57:20 Scheduled: 5 miles

I gotta say, I'm proud of myself! I think that is the longest I've run since I had to run it my senior year of lacrosse and it was our "death run." I was bored of running around 1.3 miles so I definitely hung in there and got it done.

And now the reasoning for my title: Gas-X > Side Aches

I actually began my training back in October. I kept getting side stitches on my right side. I thought it was just because I hadn't ran in awhile so I kept stretching and going a slow pace to keep them under control. After a few weeks, I knew they should have gone away so I began looking at other causes:

--eating dairy prior to running, eating/drinking too close to a run, not warming up, not stretching enough, hunching over while running, not eating/drinking ENOUGH before the run, inhaling only when my left foot hit the ground, etc etc etc.

Yet NOTHING worked! One day Jonathon suggested I "run through it" and just ignore it. I'd tried everything else so I thought "why not?" Worst. Idea. Ever. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but I got a non-stop ache for three days straight! I couldn't even breathe without it hurting, let alone run. I took a break from running to let it heal up and get things figured out.

I researched and found a column chock-full of people describing the same problem as me. It came down to one of three possibilities:

1) Costochondritis - inflammation of a rib or the cartilage connecting the rib

2) Gas

3) Malfunctioning Gall bladder

When it comes to deciding between REMOVING GALL BLADDER vs. Take one Gas-X tablet before a run, I think it is clear which one I tried first. :)

I've taken Gas-X before my last two runs and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I've been SIDE-ACHE FREEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not quite sure why this has worked so far (normally gas would present an ache on the left side.. and normally someone would know they HAD gas! I promise that stinky smell the other night at the gym wasn't being expelled from MY duck tail), but I won't argue with what works.

The doctor said if this isn't working, he's already ordered an ultrasound for my gallbladder in case I decide to check that route. I've been with my gall bladder 22 years now and have taken a liking to it so I hope that miracle pill Gas-X keeps on doin' its thang!

I've loved running this week. Even though it's been rough starting back up again, it feels great doing something good for your body. And I'm excited I convinced my friend Nikki to come with me to Zumba tomorrow morning bright and early so we can both wobble into work next week with sore.. everything!