Running should be a positive experience: you run to get fit; you run with friends, colleagues or fellow athletes to be sociable and to push yourself to new levels of fitness; you run because you want to be out in the countryside, breathe fresh air, escape the day-to-day; you run because you enjoy the burst of endorphins and ‘getting in the zone’ – or a combination of the above.
Minor discomforts and injuries tend to be part and parcel of this experience, including the odd muscle or ligament twinge or occasional light-headedness. But if you get regular dizzy spells, especially if there are other worrying symptoms such as chest pain, severe headaches or projectile vomiting, or if it’s suddenly a new symptom and you’ve been running for a long time, you should see your doctor as a matter of priority. If you are a healthy individual and there are no other medical issues, the main factors to address if you are experiencing dizzy spells while running are: