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How to Fix a Side Stitch While Hiking
People aren’t exactly sure what causes the side stitch, but there’s no doubt that it results from physical activity. When you’re out hiking and taking on a tough hill, the last thing you want is a side stitch hampering your ability to exercise. But if you want to be rid of it, you’ll have to address it. In this article, you’ll find some quick tips and techniques that can help you slow down your side stitch when you’re out on the hiking trail.
Work on your breathing. Since the shorter breathing of exercise can often bring about a side stitch, try to work on breathing in deeply. It might be a little painful at first, but eventually you should notice that it relaxes the stitch and you’ll have greater mobility after a little while. Try to keep your breathing fairly consistent in order to keep the side stitch away as you continue hiking.
Make sure your stomach isn’t full or that you’re not bogged down by digestion. The old “wait an hour before you exercise after eating a meal” rule applies here. If you eat water-rich foods like vegetables and fruits, you should have little problem exercising shortly thereafter – but if you have something heavier, you might run a bigger risk of having a side stitch when you go hiking.Prevention. When you’re in good shape, you’ll notice that it’s hard to get a side stitch – this is because your body has adapted to the exercise and generally finds it easier, which means less shallow breathing as you work out. When you’re out of shape and you go hiking, your breathing is more likely to be short, which can help cause a side stitch. In order to prevent a side stitch, you’ll have to get through this “beginner’s” period and simply improve your basic core strength and cardiovascular capabilities.
Stop and take a break. You’re under no obligation to keep going through a side stitch – if you want to complete your hike, go ahead and complete it after you’ve had a restful break and feel a second wind coming on. You don’t have to power through every problem you have. The adage “no pain, no gain” doesn’t always apply – it’s just a general rule that means you’ll have to encounter resistance if you want to grow your physical strength and fitness.
Photo Credits: justicho
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Three Reasons to Pack Light When Hiking
One thing that might separate any experienced hiker from a complete beginner is seeing how the hiker is packed. An experienced hiker will have a good backpack, one that is steel-rod enforced that helps to distribute the weight of their towage across their body, instead of dragging down on their shoulders and neck. The experienced hiker might look under-prepared on first glance, traveling light, but carrying only the essentials.
The novice hiker might look like a walking hike-cyborg, a person with too many machines, too much to carry, and no respect for what carrying weight over long distances will do to their energy. While it’s true that some hikers can handle more weight than others, there’s no doubt that someone carrying too much for their own strength and energy levels is in for a pretty tough lesson about hiking.
Here are three reasons to pack light when hiking:#1. You’re preparing for the second half of the hike, not the first.
A rule of thumb for preparation is that you’re not preparing for everything that’s expected – although that’s part of it, as well – but preparing for the unexpected. By carrying too much equipment with you, you might be prepared for every situation, but you’re really only preparing for the first part of the hike – the time when you aren’t exhausted from carrying so much equipment. If you need some technology to navigate your way home, carry it with you – but only if you need it.
#2. Reducing your resource needs.
As you expend less energy by carrying less weight, you’ll also create less of a need to consume energy. Consider it the hiker’s paradox: the more food you carry, the more food you’ll need to eat to maintain your energy levels. This might not be as true during shorter hikes because you won’t need as much endurance, but on longer hikes, your endurance is a key factor, and reducing your resource needs is one of the reasons to pack light.
#3. Hiking is tough enough.
If you’re a serious hiker who’s tackling the terrain, it’s no fun to be held back by the weight you’re carrying. Hiking is tough enough, so pack light in order to give yourself the license to move with agility and relative speed, chasing high points and tackling long distances. For you beginners, you’ll understand this once you get out there. Some people increase their exercise intensity by adding weights to a run or jog, but unless you’re a serious hiker, there’s no reason to do this the first time out.
Photo Credits: The Sunshine Rabbit
