If you run, you’re going to get stitches, it’s inevitable. Side stitches are both annoying and disruptive to your pace.They’re caused by cramping of the diaphragm as a result of core muscles not being strong enough to support the jostling movements when running. When you run too far or for too long without having built up enough strength, you can expect to experience a few stitches. But not to worry. Once you’ve built up the stamina, these stitches will gradually decrease. A few tips to help you get rid of stitches include quick deep breaths to re-oxygenate the area and force the diaphragm into a more comfortable position. Do this while pushing your fingers (in high school they told us to use rocks) into the area of pain. Stopping to take a few big stretches can also help.