I need to eat something while running a half???

Amy_B

I read in Runner's World about eating something with calories (or drinking) while running a half or full marathon. Thoughts on this? If you do this, what do you consume?

kylielouttit

I thought you would probably drink water but I never thought of food.

I'm doing my first half-marathon this Spring and I have always wondered what happens if you need to use the washroom during! lol

abricklin

I thought you would probably drink water but I never thought of food.

I'm doing my first half-marathon this Spring and I have always wondered what happens if you need to use the washroom during! lol

I have never heard of a runner needing to go while running. Most races are in the morning, so you have time to pee before you head to the starting line. Also, your body sweats so much there is little extra fluid to need to pee!

abricklin

I read in Runner's World about eating something with calories (or drinking) while running a half or full marathon. Thoughts on this? If you do this, what do you consume?

I think unless you are running these distance on a regular basis (which is unhealthy) you would not need to refuel during the run. Eat a carb rich dinner the night before and a banana the morning of

cariet

Hi Ladies,

A good rule of thumb while running is to make suer you are hydrating well for at least 3 days ahead and that you eat a well balanced meal the night before. Most half marathons will have aide stations along the way that will have water, an electrolyte drink, and sometimes gels, oh and washrooms!! Make sure you take (or leave) what you need! It is a good idea to follow your regular routine for long runs (training). If you eat before then do the same. You will burn up to, and sometimes over, 1000 calories. Your body will need help with this major loss. Just remeber to have fun and know that you are accomplishing a major feat! Way to go!!

turboandrea

I ran the Disney princess half marathon in March. It took me three and a half hours since I had to slow down due to injury. I also burned 3000+ calories. This eating/drinking schedule got me through the race with no on-course potty breaks. Believe me, you do NOT want to have to wait in the ridiculous lines for a bathroom break.

Before race: Ate half a muffin and half a banana. Drank a small bottle of water.
Went to the bathroom right before I walked to the start line. Wait about 45 minutes to my corral.

I took EVERY water break I ran by - there were tons! I stuck with water the entire time until around Mile 6-7 and got a cup of gatorade. I had a mini Luna bar in my iPod arm case that I ate around the same time. That's all I needed to get me through the race and I had enough energy for all 13 miles.

Best of luck! There is nothing like seeing mile 13 on your first half.

crasula

I run about 30 miles a week these days. I find it the best way to lose weight quickly and to be honest i'm quite obsessed with running now to the extent i usually run a half marathon every 3 months.

I researched this particular subject in the past and found the best thing to eat while training for the marathon is carbohydrates, more specifically complex carbs. I know it seems to go against all the rules of weight loss diets but it seems you've passed the hard part of the diet programme you're working on and are interested in the running for sake of the challenge rather than weight loss so i'll continue making that assumption.

Complex carbs come from the starch in plant foods so you should concentrate on pasta, rice, legumes, bread, vegetables and fruit. To keep your muscles in tip top shape you'll need to increase your calorie intake too as they need glycogen and you will not be in the best condition if you're trying to train for a marathon on 1500 calories per day.

Like i said this does go against most things you read normally on this site but get those carbs in late before you go to bed the day before the race as they'll give you lots of fuel and don't forget to drink lots of water on the day.

Good luck!

nikiswimr

I will usually eat either an energy gel or cubes once during a half. I also alternate water and gatorade at the stations (although usually drink only at every other station otherwise I get sick and do need the restroom!). For a full marathon, I eat more regularly and will alternate energy gel (essentially pure sugar) with something like peanuts. They definitely have restrooms on the course and many people use them... I train as I would race as well and find that if I refuel appropriately I have much better runs.. Good luck!

KCmom

My husband has run 6 marathons (once a year) and is training for his 7th in October. He drinks regularly along on the course, whenever it's offered. Usually every few miles they offer some sort of gatorade type drink or water. They also have stations regularly spaced througout the course that offer Stinger gel or some other sort of high energy substance or bar, and at a few places they even offer gummy bears. There are also port-a-pottys spaced along the course and they are used well, he reports. He has seen both men and women just stop along the side of the road to go, since the line was too long for the port-a-pottys and they apparantly didn't want to wait....... :embarassed:

He carbo-loads the night before and eats some oatmeal, 1/2 a banana, and water and gatorade the morning of the marathon. Right after the race, the course shuffles him through a brief medical screening, and they offer chocolate milk, ice cream bars, gatorade, fruit, give him his Marathon shirt and medal, etc. He's starving after the race and craves carbs like crazy!

turboandrea

Also, be forewarned that if you "carbo-load" before the race or the night before, unless you empty your stomach so to speak before the race, you're going to have to stop at a restroom along the way. That counts against your time, too. You'll find whatever works for you and you'll do great. Don't sweat it too much!

Amy_B

Also, be forewarned that if you "carbo-load" before the race or the night before, unless you empty your stomach so to speak before the race, you're going to have to stop at a restroom along the way. That counts against your time, too. You'll find whatever works for you and you'll do great. Don't sweat it too much!

Yeah, I really don't want to have to stop for THAT during the race. LOL My issue is that I usually have to get my body moving around some in the mornings before "everything works its way out." I just hope that's before the race!

lisajuly

I usually will have pasta for dinner the night before, with a chicken breast and veggies cut up into it. The morning of a half I will usually eat a mini bagel with peanut butter.

During a race, i usually hold a handheld bottle which has powerade zero diluted with water and will take 1 gel or a couple of energy cubes about 45 minutes in, and then another at the 1.5 hr mark to get me thru the last 30 minutes with some energy. Once my waterbottle is empty, i'll take water from aid stations, but will not take a sports drink because the sugar just kills my stomach (but oddly enough the gel doesn't bother me). If you decide to use gels/cubes during a race, it's really important that you test them out before the race. you don't want to try something during a race (and this includes sports drinks!) just because they're handing out freebies. Something you're not used to or that you've never tried before can give you cramps, an upset stomach, etc.

A lot of times the race website will indicate what they'll be handing out along the course. buy a couple and try them out on training runs and if they don't work, then try something else and bring your own.

skywalker

I did a Half a few years ago and I took along a few Powergels. I also recommend taking full advantage of all water and Gatorade stations. When I did a full Marathon about 7 years ago, I took several Gu gels and took water and Gatorade from every station. I did have to make a pit stop around mile 10 (just to pee, thankfully), but then I think my body used up everything after that.:laugh:

Don't forget to replenish after the finish line too. To quote a friend of mine after I finished the Marathon, "Drink until you pee." Good luck!!! Have a great race! :drinker:

twingirls05

I just ran my 3rd half marathon in the last year and I've never really taken food with me on the runs. I make sure to hydrate really well at least a week before. I try to drink a gallon of water per day. I usually back off on the water the day before the race b/c running always makes me have to pee! Ha!

I eat a healthy carb dinner the night before. Usually something like whole grain pasta, spaghetti sauce and protein (like lean beef meatballs), veggies and a slice of light garlic toast. The morning of the race, I will make a piece of toast and put 1.5 Tbs-2 Tbs peanut butter on it and slice up half of a banana (or a whole if it's small) to put on it. I usually take about 3 sips of water to wash it down. OTher than that, I drink NOTHING that morning or I have to pee during.

There should be a potty break spot once or twice along the half marathon course (at least that's how ost are). But, there are usually lines. My first half, I stopped to pee at mile 4...and waited about 5 minutes in line). The one I ran last weekend...I stopped at mile 3 and there was no one else there. After the first 1/3 of the race, I'm sweating so much, there is no longer the urge to stop...lol...either that ior it's a total mental game.

As for refueling during the race...I walk through EVERY water station. I usually will take a water and a cup of gatorade at each one (especially if they aren't very full cups). Gatorade is good for carb consumption and also the electrolytes (again, I'm a heavy sweater when I run). I also carry Chomps with me (they are like a soft gummy square...some have caffeine in them...but they are for energy and also carbs while you run). There are also things like GU, ShotBlox, Chomps, PowerBar makes stuff too...that you can easily carry and eat if you need something. However, since the half marathon distance is becoming a pretty "easy" distance for me, I no longer use the Chomps during it. I will once I start picking up the further distances though. I'm training for my first marathon in Oct.