Do you eat before a morning jog/run

JTick

I hate running in the morning, but there's this little issue of race coordinators who think the butt-crack of dawn is a great starting time. :grumble:

If I'm running a 5k, I'll have about 200 calories before that race. 10k, 400 calories. Half marathon is about 600 calories (I only had 400 calories before my first half marathon, and at mile 8 I really needed a sammich). I have found that works best for me. I don't run very well if my stomach is growling.

dauvis

For me, I don't eat before my 30 minute weekday runs. For my long weekend run (if in the morning), I have been having juice and a fruit.

Kekibird

90% of the time I just run because I'm too lazy to get up even earlier to eat in time for the food to digest before running. But every once in a while I will get some toast with PB down before a run.

Stoshew71

I hate running in the morning, but there's this little issue of race coordinators who think the butt-crack of dawn is a great starting time. :grumble:

If I'm running a 5k, I'll have about 200 calories before that race. 10k, 400 calories. Half marathon is about 600 calories (I only had 400 calories before my first half marathon, and at mile 8 I really needed a sammich). I have found that works best for me. I don't run very well if my stomach is growling.

According to RW Big Book of M and HM Training, 200 calories an hour before your run; or 400 calories 2 hours before your run; or 600 calories 3 hours before your run. Otherwise your body won't process fully in time because of the reasons I listed above. So the answer is carb loading starting 2 or 3 days just before your race until the night before. That way your glycogen stores are full.

If you practice training on an empty stomach in the morning, eventually your body gets used to it. That is how I used to be. I HAD to eat something. Now all I want is coffee and then I can run. For the first month or so, your run will feel sluggish, but you will get used to it. Then during the race you will kick butt if you do everything else correctly.

kristinegift

The only time I run in the morning is when I'm going for a long run. So I eat before those -- some toast, some granola, something small but easy to digest -- and drink a big glass of water. If I was just going out for a quick 2 miler or something, I would just drink water and head out the door, though.

MelisaBegins

I workout and run in the morning and always have 1/2 a banana and a few sips of water beforehand. I always wake up so hungry so if I don't put a little something in the tank I feel shaky and bonk fast. When I get into marathon training this fall and start to do longer runs, I will have something a bit more substantial beforehand like a whole banana + toast or protein bar. I'm a big fan of the "listen to your body" method and keeping it simple.