Headaches - Beginners - Runner's World

Lisa Donelon

30/04/2003 at 14:38

Hi, I've just started running as a way of losing some weight and get fitter. As a challenge I hav entered myself for the manchester 10K in June. My problem is that I am prone to getting banging headaches when I do strenuous exercise. I drink loads before, during and after running but this doesn't help. Are there any other tips out there or is it that I just need to drink even more?

Thanks, Lisa

Test

30/04/2003 at 14:48

Try drinking plenty the night before. And not alcohol!

Nessie

30/04/2003 at 15:05

What do you drink? If you do drink loads, but it's just water, you may be flushing/sweating out all the salts and electrolytes your body needs.

Try a sports drink, or if it's really bad, something like Diaralyte (used for rehydrating after gastric problems) might help.

Lisa Donelon

30/04/2003 at 15:15

Yes I'm just drinking water, but I'll try drinking more water the night before and have a sports drink during the run.

Thanks for the advice

Chris from TriTalk

30/04/2003 at 16:32

If you are running to lose weight, then (perversely) it might be that you need to eat more. Lots of people with weight loss aims don't eat enough to support the new exercise they are doing. A sports drink would also help out here by providing a bit of extra sugar. A lack of sugar can also be a cause of headaches.

Ice maiden

30/04/2003 at 17:16

I echo that re lack of sugar. Are you following a particular diet plan? Both Weight Watchers and Rosemary Conley factor the energy requirements for exercise. I did a weight watchers diet whilst doing a lot of swimming, you earn 'bonus points' which means more food with energy. Eating med-slow release energy foods like bananas, porridge and other carbohydrates will keep your blood sugar levels higer for longer.

I'm not a medic, just someone who gets a lot of headaches and has learnt some of these things the hard way.

30/04/2003 at 17:17

Headaches can sometimes be a cause of a larger problem. The best way to eliminate what may be causing them during excersise is to keep a diary for a week of when you eat/drink in relation to exercise, and trying to find a pattern :)

Lisa Donelon

01/05/2003 at 08:58

Yeah - I'm currently on WeightWatchers but I haven't been eating my bonus points. Maybe I should be eating a light snack before running (i.e. banana, snack bar).

Yesterday I had an apple and drank 1.5 litres of water before going for my third run, I also had a sports drink during and after running, and I didn't get a headache.

Thank you everyone - you've given me lots to think about. And, by the way, went running last night, and enjoyed it more than ever.

Donna Bell

30/06/2005 at 21:21

i also get that problem but i try to keep my feet lighter on the ground and try to avoid paths or roads. and lots of water

Liz Foster 3

11/10/2005 at 15:10

I would also say listen to your body. If you've had a very busy time, have been short on sleep and meals have been a bit erratic think twice before pushing yourself on a run. I ran recently after two days of hard driving,pushed myself a bit hard and then ended up unable to do anything for four days as my head throbbed and my glands were swollen.

theminx

17/10/2005 at 14:15

im doing w.w too ane often get this. eat all your points as your body needs it for sure. i seem to be losing and i eat my points

Donna Bell

17/10/2005 at 15:21

i lost ten pounds on weigh watchers within two months without exercise but then after that could not lose any more so i started to run and they also advised eat all of the points if you exercise, you can even add points if you exercise so your allowed more.

Amanda Wilson-Patterson

28/04/2006 at 12:31

I also suffer from headaches after a competitive run but never on a training run. I drink constantly during the day but will try a sports drink during my run. I will also try and eat more bananas. I've also started to take a few jelly beans in my pocket to keep up my sugar level.

Donna Bell

28/04/2006 at 18:34

a great sweet for running to keep up sugar levels is peppermint creams by trebor. they keep your energy going and make your mouth feel fresh when running i always have one half way round my course.

Ju Ashman

30/12/2006 at 12:33

Hi, I used to get real thumpers after a run but found it was because I was going too fast for too long.
As soon as I got my heart rate monitor & could monitor what my heart was doing, I was able to slow down when I needed too & therefore was not running at 185 bpm for a long time - no wonder my head felt like it was going to explode, lol!

lurker

30/12/2006 at 18:26

eat the bonus points lisa
i did it for a year and lost two stone

but you need to eat!!

Janine Haynes

31/03/2009 at 21:13

I also get a headache after a long run i.e 21 miles, i drink lot before etc. I read that it may be due to low salt and iron levels. Anybody got any advice would be pleased to know or find a solution.

Elmodiddly

31/03/2009 at 21:24

As you exercise you sweat which excretes salts as a waste product. An electrolyte drink or a drink before you go and during the run will help enormously. 21 miles is a huge distance and small things such as salt levels really makea big difference.

Janine Haynes

31/03/2009 at 21:43

Thanks for the advice Elmodiddly. I always drink about a litre of fluid before I run.

Ian Middleton 3

17/05/2009 at 02:24

I've been running on a treadmill for 18 months and do about 10K three times a week. This week I started running outdoors for the first time and have managed 2 runs of 5 Miles. On the first one I got banging headache about half way round which stopped almost as soon as I finished the run. On my second run today I got one almost as soon as I started but managed to ignore it. Eventually it subsided to a dull ache that was there throughout most of the run. When I finished it was barely perceptible and I took a couple of painkillers and it went away completely.I'm putting it down to increases in my blood pressure which I probably didn't get so much of on the treadmill. I've found road running uses more of the thigh muscles and I'm assuming this is pushing the blood round faster. I know I'm using different muscles because I'm hobbling about the house right now

I'm hoping that eventually I'll get used to the new exertion and I won't get any more headaches, but the advice on here sounds useful. I drink a lot before and during my run but I must admit I drink far too much wine the night before (well most nights actually) so perhaps that's my problem. If so its probably one more good reason to moderate the old alcohol intake!

I LOVE road running though, even though I’m crippled in between. It was a bit scary at first as so many people told me it was much harder than the treadmill. I’d say different but not really that much harder, and you get to look at something more interesting than the bedroom wall!