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Actually, it's rarely your muscles developing - it's really your diaphragm.

I actually just started running again after summer break recently and ran into the same thing - after about 15 minutes my left side starts to stab, just like yours. Turns out I just needed to slow down the pace and warm up longer before running, plus I started paying attention to not tensing my side muscles.

Try running slower for a week or two, it might actually help, and if the pain doesn't go away - then it makes sense to go see a doctor.

I had the same thing when I first got serious about running :) Try eating something light 10-15 minutes before your workout - a banana or a bar - side pain often shows up just from hunger and diaphragm spasms.

It also helps to warm up slower and not jump straight into your target pace, but gradually speed up instead - give your body time to adapt.

If the pain is sharp and doesn't go away even after you slow down, then yeah, better not risk it and see a doctor, but usually it goes away on its own after a month or two.

Is the pain sharp, like a stabbing sensation, or more of a dull ache?

Because stabbing pain in your side when running is often a diaphragm spasm, and it's actually pretty normal for beginners, but I wouldn't advise just ignoring it.

A month into training it could just be your body adapting, but try warming up really well before you run, lower the intensity and run slower - the pain should go away. If the pain doesn't go away after a couple of months or gets worse, you should see a doctor to rule out problems with your lungs or spleen (they can also cause sensations in that area).

In my practice I see a lot of kids complaining about side pain when they run a lot, and usually it goes away on its own, but it's better to be safe.

Оксана_33 asker Sharp, like a needle prick. Thanks for the tip about warming up and pace - I'll try to slow down.

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