Glorious day here in Somerset, perfect running weather - slight chill in the air, light cooling breeze, sunshine and a couple of short showers. I set out with no particular plan but was hoping to do a ‘long’ run (more than 10km). The first 3k were hard work, legs felt heavy and I was puffing a bit! After that my breathing settled down and I felt more comfortable. I got to my usual 10km turn around place but decided to continue - it was such a lovely day for a run! 😊 We plodded on along the lanes down to the seafront where we had a short pause for a photo. Then time for the return trip. I decided to take an alternative route following a foot path across waterlogged fields - very muddy and slow going!! Eventually we were back to the lanes, slogged back up the hill and back along the familiar old railway line, into town, across the park and back home. 17km! Very pleased with that 😀. The only issue was a niggling in the tendon of my left calf (old injury😕) but stopping to stretch really helped and I did extra stretches after the run. Icing and more stretching this evening so I am hoping it will be ok.
A question.....does anyone else run on an empty stomach?
Written by
skysue16
Half Marathon
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31 Replies
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Wow I'd swap my canal waters to run alongside waves and the sea spray 👍 it's a nice treat when you can decide to go further and the legs agree, excellent running skysue16 .
But I definitely can't stomach a run without breakfast 😬
What a fantastic run SS! Really good idea to make the most of the weather. 😀 10 miles is a nice hefty distance too - I hope your calf doesn’t grumble. 🤞
Yes, I tend to run on an empty stomach 99% of the time as I run first thing in the morning. I’d have a small snack if it was a later run (race for example) or a run longer than 10 miles. 😀
Thank you Cheeky 😀. Pouring with rain this morning so I am glad I took full advantage of the lovely weather! Calf seems fine thank you so all that stretching worked. I am interested to hear that you also like to run empty - do you take snacks if you are running more than 10 miles? I expect there is a post somewhere with suggestions!
Yes, I’ve experimented with having a banana, porridge, nuts, toast etc, but I’m aware they’re there and it doesn’t feel right somehow. 🤷♀️ It certainly doesn’t help my pace or anything.
And all I take on a long run is a handful of jelly babies, just for the sugar boost. I can’t be dealing with the hard work of chewing anything more substantial (as I don’t stop). I’ll pop a Tailwind sachet or SIS tablet in my water too, but again only on longer runs. 😀
That’s really helpful, thank you. I thought I was a bit weird not needing to eat 🤣. Interestingly when I was doing the 2:5 diet I found I had more energy on the fast (500-600 calories)days not less and would often go running. I think adrenaline kicks in.....not sure about the science! 😂 thanks for the tips.
Brilliant 10 miles, great day for it and sounds like a nice mixed route. I usually run on an empty stomach before breakfast. I did have 2 oat cakes before my 10mile/2 hour run on monday. Depending on what I've eaten the night before I may have ½ a banana before a 10k or longer run. Happy running 🤗
Thank you 😊 yes, mixed terrain - trail, lanes, muddy fields! That’s interesting about the previous evening’s meal, hadn’t thought about that 🤔. Thanks for the tips.
Gorgeous photo Sue and whoop whoop on your run 👍sounds glorious. We seem to have had nothing but grey skies recently and I’m itching to see a nice blue sky. Am fed up with the strong winds here.
I can’t do anything on an empty stomach and am one of those people who grazes throughout the day and eats every couple of hours so before a long run it would always be porridge made with almond milk and honey. However, having said all that, I managed to run 20K recently on only breakfast taken six hours beforehand (unplanned timing 🙄) but I was hungry throughout. I do take Tailwind for runs over 12K but I’ve found that I like to eat something, homemade flapjacks are best for me 😋 But my tummy (and legs) definitely need food 🙂
Thanks Princess - grey skies and rain today! I need to research Tailwind and Cheeky mentioned SIS. I LOVE porridge and banana but after a run! During one event (13km) I felt nauseous near the end and I wasn't sure if that was due to eating breakfast (only light) or could have been dehydration or getting too hot. There are so many variables it is difficult to pinpoint why some runs are better. Did a 20 minute stretch session this morning and calf is a bit tight but ok, thanks for asking 😊
I am a porridge and honey addict too. Snag is it means having an hour or so digestion gap before running, but I need it....probably goes back to parental rules in early childhood!!
I make my own 💪👍😋. I can’t afford to buy them. Like buying money. Plus they’re generally tiny 🔍. However, I was gifted a goodly haul of Eat Natural bars by my son for Christmas 🎄 I discovered though that they were being eaten. Not by me but by OH when he felt peckish ☹️🤬. So now they’re hidden 🙄
I buy a box of mixed Tailwind sachets for anything over HM distance I treat them like hold dust
I use the recipe for Peanut power bars that’s probably posted here as a Sticky 😁The WW recipe ones are lovely too I use set honey rather than runny as I like a firm bar and not one that disintegrates in my pocket. I cut them up into squares and wrap each in foil then into a plastic box and into the freezer, interred under the veg so OH doesn’t find them 😏
‘Interred’😂 that made me smile! my OH likes snacking on crisps, they are ‘hidden’ upstairs but ‘out of sight out of mind’ theory doesn’t seem to work 🤣 Thanks for the recipe suggestion, the peanut bars sound yummy. Please explain WW - brain not in gear! Thank you 😊
Hi Maddee, hope you are doing ok. There is a bit of tightness in my calf but I did a 20 min stretch session this morning and a walk this afternoon and it seems ok, thanks very much😊
How lovely! I'm starting to miss the coast again ... I don't think I could run 10 miles on an empty stomach. I tend to have an energy bar before 10 - 16k and porridge before anything further. May only be psychological, I haven't tried without.
Thanks Linda - yes running by the coast is lovely. I am thinking of entering the Bournemouth HM.....(great coastal route and daughter in law already signed up!). 🤔😊
Wow... what a fabulous run and what a glorious day! Huge well done you.... a super result and well deserved after the had days in the classroom!I run early , so, up to 10K on my cup of tea and two biscuits... but if I was running further, it would be later in the day and I think I would be taking fuel on board , I had a normal breakfast about two hours before my HM in 2019.
When events start later it is more difficult to decide when to eat. I just somehow feel more energised when I haven’t eaten at all. 🤔Maybe I will experiment with adding something to my water?
Sounds lovely! Coast running must be so nice! I’ve tried running on an empty stomach but I feel horrible. So I at least have some rye toast and PB . I would like to try it again as it is supposed to be a way to train your body to use more fat for fuel rather than carbs. But I like my carbs too much I think
Thank you, it was a lovely day for a run. I have been reading an interesting article about intermittent fasting and exercise. It seems that what I am doing (exercising in the morning before eating) is ok and actually beneficial. All very interesting 🤔
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A really nice 10 miles 😁🍂🐑.
I DID IT!!!! 10 MILES!!!!!! 🏃🏻♀️🥳
10 Mile Run in the Rain 🌧🌧🌧
200 miles and second 10 mile runwalk
HUHM 10 Miles - Woohoo! 😁