Food intake before and after: Hi I have started... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Food intake before and after

Yorkie82 profile image
9 Replies

Hi

I have started the C25K yesterday and around half way through felt like ideas running out if energy. I managed to push through and completed day 1 but just wondered whether I should he eating just before and just after the run.

Any ideas

Thanks

Martin

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Yorkie82 profile image
Yorkie82
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9 Replies

Well done on completing your first day, Martin!

You'll need to be eating at some point but it may be a case of trial and error as to what works for you - I find I can't eat immediately before a run as it gives me digestive issues during my run, so if I'm doing a short run in the morning I have breakfast afterwards but if it's a longer run I'll eat something a couple of hours before to give myself the energy but have some time to digest. However I know people who can't run at all without having eaten something so it will be a bit of experimentation to find out what works for you and your body probably :)

Jules2246 profile image
Jules2246Graduate

Hi Martin

I'm on week 4 now and have just started thinking about if I could improve my energy levels and what I could eat drink etc. From what I found it seems like it's not advisable for obvious reasons to have food less than an hour before a run but lots of people suggest a banana. I have been making myself a banana blueberry and almond milk smoothie an hour before I run and I haven't been flagging so much during my recent runs. Im sure there are lots of other suggestions but this seems to work for me. We'll done on getting started. 😀

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate

Well done and as long as you eat a good diet at this stage you shouldn't need lots more. Better to leave a few hours before running and then have a snack afterwards....

WhiteJog profile image
WhiteJogGraduate

Well done for persevering and completing your first run. I don't eat in the two hours before my run, usually have a snack a little while after finishing. Whatever works for you.

PaulaHud46 profile image
PaulaHud46Graduate

I found if I don't have anything I run out of steam so it's a cup of coffee to wake me up and half a banana, can't manage a whole one or I end up feeling sick but half is just enough.

If you are going to eat immediately before running it has to be small. Two biscuits works for me if I want to run first thing. I can't eat nothing if running (or doing anything else) before breakfast.

But your lack of energy might just be because you have only just started and need to build up fitness. I don't think the early stages use enough energy to need food. They are hard, but if, like me, you aren't used to running or any other aerobic exercise, it is really hard at the start.

It's just experiment with how you feel and learn what's normal and what works for you.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

At this stage, if you are hydrated ( every day not just run day) and have a healthy diet, you ought to be fine.

It may just be your body saying... " what the heck are you doing to me"? That is normal..many of us felt we were going to collapse in that first week!

My regime, has always been a cuppa and two digestive lights about 45 mins before I run...and a sip of water just before I leave the house... that suits me; many folk have nothing, some have fruit like a banana.

By the time you have stretched and showered after your run..have whatever you feel like..it is all down to you and how you feel:)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

No extra food required! it's just a matter of sorting out what you eat and when. I always have porridge for breakfast on run days 🙂 We are all different

Yorkie82 profile image
Yorkie82

I'm on my 2nd run today thank you everyone for you kind words of encouragement and tips around eating. Will see how I get on tonight.

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