Historically, and many years ago now 😂 😂, before I took part in any exercise, be it team or individual sport I would not eat anything within 4 hours of taking part.Since returning most of my running has taken place first thing in the morning so food has not come into the equation. My daughter also thought it strange I didn't fuel my body.
That brings me to this morning's parkrun.
Having overcome the double hill between 2 and 3 kms I started to feel like I'd run out of fuel, like an emptiness inside. I struggled for 1k then battled on to the finish.
Pre run I was awake early so had coffee at 7 and porridge with chopped apple at 7.30. I will admit I had a few G&T's yesterday evening, nothing excessive and also drank 1.5ltrs of water over the evening and this morning.
Now the real question: -
Was my body reacting to eating to close to my run or because I was actually out of fuel?
What are others thoughts on pre-run fueling? I am expecting a varied response 😁
Written by
OldManRunning
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I don't know the answer, I run empty but have run a while after food and not found it comfortable, I think there's more to it than food and we are all different
Sorry, yes, I'll correct it, you could always take a small snack in your pocket though for if it happens again, jelly babies are great for a quick energy fix, but I don't recommend them in a pocket, one hot 10k run last summer I'd put a few in my pocket, decided I'd eat one, put my hand in and came out with a melted sticky mess, took me a couple of kilometres licking my fingers before I got rid of the sticky feeling. I'm really slow but rarely take anything with me apart from a small bottle of water if I'm going to be out longer than an hour
No need to apologise WillowandSola, typo's are easy to make. Thanks for the extra info. Sticky fingers, we're you listening to the Stones or in my generation the Rolling Stones at the time 😂
I wasn't but could have been, we are the same generation, I'm just about double your speed if I remember your last parkrun post, but roll on May when I no longer spend all my days and energy at work, I have my running plan mapped out
Congratulations on your parkrun on that double hill OldmanRunning, by the way if you can, report your parkruns on Damienair's parkrun forum on a Saturday morning.
All runners should have something to eat or drink before they run, I usually wait at least a hour before I run although when I go to parkruns it's around 2 and a half hours, on a parkrun Saturday morning I have breakfast around 6.45 but the parkrun doesn't start until 9.30, on other days that I run or not at a parkrun I have something to eat around one hour before I run.
Hi OldManRunning, firstly well done for getting round following the pre run preparation over the 24 hour period before! What do you expect when you describe a few GandT's not excessive 😉🤪😁😂. What's a few? When I say a couple of, I mean more than two, if I were to say a few I might need more than one hand to count!!!!
But your right it's a good question. When I started this running lark last Spring I always ran early before breakfast, one or two large cups of tea, depending on how hydrated I felt. In winter many runs have been later, waiting for ice to clear etc and some have been afternoon, so would follow eating and more drinking. I've not experienced any impact on running after a light meal, ie breakfast and salad/sandwich lunch. This includes some longer for me runs, ie 6/7k .
I cannot say I have ever had any discomfort running from either poor hydration or food/energy, but I have always been on the lookout for it. Some runs have been slow, some faster than expected but I cannot pick up a pattern that might be related to hydration etc
Well, we are all different, wonderfully and what works for one would not run for others.
Our individual daily eating regimes do impact, I feel. I think Mr OH and I eat well and healthily., and I am a great drinker... of water that is. Again I always have been, my Nan called water, the Lion's Drink! As a result I am I think well hydrated, all the time, not just before any run of length.
I run before breakfast, and have always done that. Cuppa, ( two), in bed with two light digestive biscuits! Then the normal, routine ablutions and the gear getting on and after a small sip or two of water, I am off. Uo to 10K unless the weather is humid and very warm I would not take water.
The only time I have run after a meal was before a HM, normal breakfast at 8 ish, because the run start was 10.30/11... just water and jelly babies in my ringing vest... and for me that was fine
Your feeling could have been caused by any number of things... you could experiment... but not too many G and Ts the night before?
Thanks Oldflods 😁 With regard to the G&T's it was only a couple, I never run now if I feel I've over indulged. I'm very wary of the adverse effects of alcohol especially now I'm older 😂😂
hi OldManRunning …the great debate ‘to eat or not to eat’ …I usually run around 6am, only time for half a banana with a small glass of water and that does me fine …I only run early morning or evening…I drink water while I’m in the car teaching & maybe a salad sandwich for dinner then in the evening I don’t have anything until I’ve run and it’s only something light like stir fry and salmon…I learnt my lesson nice when I ran about half an hour after eating jambalaya and I could feel it jiggling about in my stomach so always food after a run for me …we’re all very different though aren’t we?
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Running reflections
Tips for better morning running?
Running Resolution
Running on a full tum! 🙃
