Low abdominal pain when running

[Stanimira]

I just wanted to see if anyone has experienced some of my problems. I am a 27 year old female; I am in a pretty good shape. I exercise regularly and for the last 3 months I have been running 3 to 5 times a week for 2 miles. My problem is that sometimes I would get very severe LOW abdominal pain when running.  Sometimes is on the right side, sometimes is on the left side. It does not happen all the time, though. I worm up and increase my speed gradually. I am not sure if I should I see a doctor about that. If anyone has had anything similar, please share. Thank you!

[casual_runner]

I'm 37, have been running on and off for about 10 years and also have this problem. It does not happen too often, but I've associated it with humidity levels, so I think it's related to breathing/oxygen levels. I have very mild asthma, and generally if I use a rescue inhaler before setting off when it's humid, I don't get the horrible cramps. My sister is a doctor and she said that low blood oxygen can cause cramping, and that everyone is different but that uterine cramps are possible as well. So make sure you're breathing properly. Usually if I stop, drink something cold and lay absolutely still, it goes way within 5-10 minutes. Good luck everyone and take care!

[katsd]

This problem is not gender specific.  Male athletes deal with this problem as well, but they don't describe the pain as "menstrual" like females do.  This is a CIRCULATION problem.  
I started getting this pain out of the blue on day and it hasn't gone away for 5 years.  It happens when I exert my self in strenuous exercise.  
After consulting my UCSD gyno (he is one of best in the U.S.); he confirmed this answer.  I also found an answer someone posted on another site.
When your heart rate increases too much too quickly, the blood coming through your aorta (in your lower back) has problems entering your iliac (femoral) arteries, there is a lack of blood flow to your organs, and pain results.  
YOU NEED TO WARM UP, SLOOWWWLLLYYY.  I have success when I start off by running at a 12 min/mile pace for 20 min. prior to running fast.  Its a pain in the *** though.

[cutelatingirl]

I just want to share my experience and what worked for me (at least yesterday). I am 30 years old and began to train 4 months ago. I started running 5 km at 42 min and I was ok. Two months later I participated in my first 5km career and my time dropped to 30 minutes and 28 seconds, and still I was ok. But then one month ago I started to run faster and my problems begun. In one 5km test I did with my boyfriend I did it at 26 minutes and a half and then a terrible, terrible, horrible cramp attack me at the end. It last 15 minutes and was the worst pain I ever suffered. Since then during the trainings I started feeling this cramp at 3.5 km. I always had to stop and walk 6 minutes and then the pain go away (if I stop in time) Well, I had the Nike Women´s Race yesterday I was so sad because I was afraid I wouldn{t be able to complete the 5km race because of the cramp. I went to the ginecologyst last week and she told me that  everything was ok with me, that maybe I have weak abdominal muscles. She told me to take Feldene Flash before running.
So I tried to test using Feldene Flash in my trainings last week and it was connfusing because I was with my period and I always have cramps in my period so I didnt knew if the cramps was because of the effort of running or because of my period. What I can tell is that I had this urge to go to pis.
Well, yesterday I warmed up for 20 minutes (very basic, slow warm up) and then I took Feldene Flash like 10 minutes before the race. I took two 10mg pill, so it was 20mg in total.
I completed the race without cramp! But at the end I had to rushed to the bathroom to pis.
So Feldene Flash worked for me for the race. I dont recommend it for everyday use. I will see if the problem continue, I will try to avoid it during the trainings, but now I know that it could work if I have an important race.
Another thing, my tongue felt a little bit dizzie during the race, but that was better than the cramp from hell.
I hope this could help someone else.

[crazyrunnerr]

First of all I want to say this blog saved my life! This issue has been the MOST FRUSTRATING thing ever! It has always been inconsistent and no doctor can figure out what is wrong. The two things I found that trigger it the most, however, are heavy unhealthy meals, junk food, and dehydration. Although that theory has not been very consistent either. However, yesterday I think I figured it out!
I am a 22 year old female who has been dealing with this type of pain since I was 15. It feels like an intense burning aching pain in my lower abdomen. I usually get it about 7-10 minutes into my run and always have to stop for about 5 minutes. This usually happens twice when I run and then when I stop for a second time I am fine after that. I am now training for the marathon so I needed to figure out how to end this!
There is no exact cure for this. It is a combination of things.
1. do not eat at least 4 hours before you run.
2. drink plenty of water the day of your run.
3. start off running slow so your heart rate does not go up too quickly because this can trigger the pain to start.
4. This is the SECRET! I came to the conclusion that the pain was tied in with my period because the pain was occurring much more frequently 1-2 weeks before my period. I got my period yesterday and so I bought mydol. I took 2 at 1230pm and 2 at 5pm. I ran at 6pm and NO PAIN! First time in a long time! I was very happy. I successfully ran 6 miles in an hour =)
Try this remedy to see if it works for you!

[Ramcloud]

I'm a 16 year old male soo I doubt my problem is menstrual but I run 8-12 miles a day and I used to run a 16:20 5k and now my ab hurts tremendously during even easy runs, I thought it was a pulled ab muscle so I iced it and used heat treatment aswell. it may have to do with diet due to my recent prescription to add medication which causes me to eat a TON less. I drink alot of water a day as well but the pain continues, I consider my self an experienced runner and I was able to run continually at fast paces now I hurt on my warm ups. Please any help would be amazing, with my training I can't afford to take alot of time off or stop and walk during runs I need to be able to run fast again. Any similar problems please help!

[mrbubbs]

Hi, I am a 36 year old female who has had this problem for years now.  I am fit and have been a runner for years, but I can never remember this happening to me when I was younger. I also have been trying to get pregnant without success, now I am worried!!  I get these awful contraction like pains when running around the time of ovulation.  It can be so bad sometimes, I have to stop and just sit doubled over until the pain subsides.  Today I felt it coming on, so I walked for a bit and it went away without getting so bad.  

I have mentioned it to my doctor in the past and she had no idea and did absolutely no further investigation.  Now I am worried I have a cyst or something.  If you find anything new out, please let me know, in the meantime, maybe I will make another appointment.