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I haven't come up against it yet because I haven't pushed myself hard enough but I am dreading my first encounter with the much feared side-stitch. Back in the 80's when I did most of my running the received wisdom was that you could not 'run through' a stitch. It was thought to have something to do with an insufficient supply of oxygen to the blood stream and consequently too dangerous to ignore. Of course in those days we did not have the shining light of the Wikipedia to guide us and currently there are other theories to account for this phenomenon including the following:-

1. The pain may be caused by contracting the liver or spleen, which squeeze extra oxygen-carrying red blood cells into the circulation. Although there does not appear to be much muscle in the capsule of the spleen, there is direct and indirect evidence that its size does change with exercise.This autotransfusion, (which is much larger in some animals) increases exercise capacity but the associated pain may be severe, relieved only by rest. A plausible mechanism for the pain is that high internal pressure in the liver or spleen restricts blood flow, causing hypoxia.
2. Diaphragmatic Ischemia
3. Imbalances of the thoracic spine
4. Irritation of the parietal peritoneum

No mention of deficient oxygen supply here and elsewhere I have come across advice for beating side-stitch by "changing your breathing/striding pattern"

Does anyone have any thoughts on this or better still direct experience? Certainly when I have tried to 'run it off' in the past I have always failed and been forced to concede defeat. Can it be done? Should it be attempted?

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