Stomach cramps in just about every race (Center of stomach directly below ribs)

I have the same exact problem. I'd be interested in hearing what has worked for others.

Sounds kind of like what happened to me on Monday in Boston. Somewhere after mile 10, when I sipped water it felt like my stomach could not deal with it, Gatorade felt worse, my stomach hurt and felt sick and it just got worse and worse. Like you, it was not a side cramp, and not an abdominal cramp in the sense that I have experienced before as more an intestinal issue -- this was more in the center of my belly and seemed to be exacerbated by taking in sips of liquid and became a major problem after the half. I had to drop out around mi 18 as nothing I did short of simply stopping helped and it was only getting worse. It had never happened before Monday and it frustrated and baffled me. If anyone has a possible explanation, I am also interested.

Anyone with reasonable suggestions please, let's hear em i'm a tad bit desperate.

Reasonable suggestions? This is LetsRun...

I can somewhat relate to this, but I don't experience it nearly as much as the rest of you. I usually get this described feeling towards the end of a race when I'm digging deep, (ie the last 600 of a 3k, last 1k of a 5k, etc). Usually it means that I either didn't eat enough or ate too close to the race. It's all a matter of timing for my body at least. I can eat whatever I want 3 hours before a race, but no more than a pb&j 1.5 hours before. Usually races where I get this feeling are also the races where I finish and immediately walk to a trash can. Probably not the smartest way to cure the problem, and I would never throw up if I didn't have to, but it does do the trick.

Before anything else I'd suggest double-checking anatomy so that you can describe the location of the pain to others. It seems to be quite common for people say 'stomach' when they are referring to their 'belly'. At a glance at what you have written it sounds like you are referring to pain in the small intestines.

As someone who is not a medical doctor completely speculating after reading a bunch of crap online, I diagnose lack of blood supply to the small intestines during hard racing, which means anything (food/water) hitting them will hurt.

If you get pain even when totally fasted, go speak to your doc.

http://www.aokainc.com/stomach-anatomy-picture/

It is a tough dilemma. Running performance means too much to you. I finally realized that it was just a hobby.

Try relaxing. It is very difficult. I even had a chiropractor who would adjust my back on the track infield before a race.

Stretching your back once or even twice a day every day may help.

When I got into my mid 30s and was just racing for fun the pains stopped and I ran at least as well as when I was younger.

Advice I got here years ago worked like a charm. You are probably not taking deep breaths in races. Breathe all the way in and let it out, not necessarily throughout the race but at intervals a few times. This prevents spasming of the diaphragm, if I remember the reasoning. I was getting cramps in every hard effort or race. I tried the technique and like magic the cramps did not reappear.