So I am new to this game as a 58 year old woman and have miraculously reached week 8 !!!! Thanks to this brilliant programme and Denise Lewis egging me on !!
I have got run 1 (well v.slow jog ) under my belt - but really struggled . I have been going out early (quite self conscious still ) after taking my meds and allowing half an hour for then to get into my system ( I have Addisons disease - steroid dependant and hypothyroidism) but I haven’t eaten anything before my run . Am wondering if now I am into the last weeks of C25K whether this is a factor - or if my body that has been so unused to this sort of exertion just needs to get stronger in all respects !
Written by
Threetwoonego
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I always need to eat something before I go first thing in the morning, waiting half an hour to an hour before going out. Some say they can go out fur 5k without eating anything first, but longer distances they would need to eat.
I’ve trained myself to eat sooner after breakfast than I used to be able to. That’s mainly through laziness and not wanting to get up extra early fo eat before running. With a bit of experimentation, you might find things that work for you. Toast and jam with a coffee is normal a pretty reliable breakfast for me.
I've found that since my hypothyroidism kicked off I need to eat before a run, I never used to...it also depends on what I've eaten the night before, I tend to eat my main meal at lunch time and just have a slice of toast or a small snack, or indeed nothing at all in the evening, then I would need breakfast before a run. I like boiled eggs and toast!
I have a cup of coffee and half a banana before I go out. I like to read the news/sport etc etc while I'm having my coffee. I then go out after about 45 mins. General rules I believe are wait 30 mins after a tea/coffee before you run...wait an hour after a small snack and 2-3 hours after a meal. I've been out in the past, just having eaten, and have to say massive indigestion halfway through a run isn't pleasant hahaha.
I prefer to run on an empty stomach, it feels lighter, so whether it's first thing, or last thing, I prefer not to eat for a few hours before, but as has been said, everyone is different
Empty stomach if running first thing in the morning. I have to give the levothyroxine a clear half an hour anyway before eating anything else. Just a small glass of water, and I'm out.
Obviously if the run's going to be a longer one, eg. over ninety minutes, I'll be taking something with me, and I may have had a couple of slices of toast.
Similarly, if I get up to pee at 5am I will usually take the L-thyroxine then. I prefer not to have to get up in the middle of the night, but when you've gotta go…
My dose has been stable (100µg) for the last couple of years. I'm not under a consultant, just my usual GP.
In fact the trainee GP who back in 2017 originally referred me to a consultant got a long letter back (with a copy to me) effectively saying, "Why the heck have you referred him to me? Do it yourself, man!" After that I was under the head of that GP practice who routinely did that sort of work anyway.
I used to be under the GP when I had my goitre but when they removed that last year it was then down to the hospital to do the titration, in fact my GP is actually not allowed to do it. Too many cooks etc...
You know, I feel so much better I am now wondering if the GP got it wrong and I should have been on the meds years ago. The fatigue I suffered on a regular basis was blamed on the radiotherapy I had 5 years ago, Even three consultants in ENT said that... thank goodness for one who looked at my results properly and gave me the prescription. It's a long process, and I hope they'll up my dose after my last test, I feel like a junkie - gimme the drugs, gimme MORE!!! What a magic pill this is!!
I have a light breakfast 7 days a week, however, on my run days I don't run for a least one hour after finishing breakfast, if it's very warm weather in the summer I will be running as early as 6.30am which means finishing breakfast as early as half past five, when I go to parkrun on a Saturday morning I finish my breakfast at 7 am, plenty of time for my breakfast to settle, well done to you Threetwoonego on almost completing C25K, only 6 more runs until you graduate
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.
Advice on eating and drinking before running first thing in the morning?
What to eat before morning runs? 
Eating and early morning runs
Eating Before Running?
Eating before/after a run
