Running On Empty….? Do you?

rgunn02
rgunn02 Posts: 169 Member
I've heard stuff about running on an empty stomach in the morning - does anyone do this? How does it help / effect you?
Also - anyone a "low carber" and a runner?
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Replies

  • DavidMartinez2
    DavidMartinez2 Posts: 840 Member
    I almost always run on an empty stomach. I like to get up in the morning, do my morning routine, and then go run. The only time I eat or drink anything before heading out is on race day.

    Can't help you with the low carb thing unless you are asking me to eat yours.
  • davemunger
    davemunger Posts: 1,139 Member
    Ditto DavidMartinez, except I will sometimes eat a little before a long run. The theory is that it prepares you for deprivation in races. you are never going to eat enough before / during a race to make up for the effort, so it's best to get your body used to "running on fumes" in your workouts.

    I'm not a deliberate low carber but I don't have a typical runner's high carb diet either. From what I've read it's important to replace at least the calories you burn in a run with carbs.
  • DonPendergraft
    DonPendergraft Posts: 520 Member
    Normally I run fasted. But if it's going to be a run of more than say 1.5 hours, I may eat a gel before starting and then during my run as well. I also will take nutrition if it's a shorter workout but of high intensity. For example on a track day or hill day. But most of my runs lower intensity and not terribly long, so I don't eat anything. I doing 15 miles Saturday on the trails, so I promise you I will be eating during that. Everyone is different, but that is what works for me.
  • runner475
    runner475 Posts: 1,236 Member
    I fourth that to "I almost always run on an empty stomach" except for my morning "Chai"

    Long Runs - Chai and a coffee later.

    Regarding low carb - Before I proceed a short note - I'm a firm believer every body is different and every body reacts differently. This is how my body reacted to the lifestyle I adopted for 3 months.

    I have played around with low carb high protein lifestyle for good 3 months around Feb 2012. I ran during this time but I was not in training season.

    My experience - My energy levels during cardio weren't great and I was being tired. I felt sick to my stomach after I came back from running even though we were in peak winter and I love running in winter. It's when I perform my best. If I wanted to run 5 days of the week I felt I wanted to skip and only do it for alternate days. I did shrink a lot and lost weight ... not water weight but dropped pant size.

    Since it wasn't my race season I was also olympic lifting (I have a feeling shrinking and getting tighter expedite that) My lifting improved and I was lifting as if it was my last day on this planet.

    Baseline - Low Carb/ High Protein/ Didn't care about Fat Lifestyle - I had lot of strength for Strength Training but absolutely next to Null/Cero/Noll for Running.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    I almost always run on an empty stomach. I like to get up in the morning, do my morning routine, and then go run. The only time I eat or drink anything before heading out is on race day.

    Can't help you with the low carb thing unless you are asking me to eat yours.

    Ditto.
  • rgunn02
    rgunn02 Posts: 169 Member
    so is it because of "bathroom issues" that you all choose to run fasted?
  • ZenInTexas
    ZenInTexas Posts: 781 Member
    I almost always run on an empty stomach. I like to get up in the morning, do my morning routine, and then go run. The only time I eat or drink anything before heading out is on race day.

    Can't help you with the low carb thing unless you are asking me to eat yours.

    Ditto.
    Same here.
  • ZenInTexas
    ZenInTexas Posts: 781 Member
    so is it because of "bathroom issues" that you all choose to run fasted?

    If I am forced to run shortly after eating I will have a stomach ache and feel like crap. On a race day I get up 3 hours before the start of the race so I can eat well before it starts.
  • tkillion810
    tkillion810 Posts: 591 Member
    Running on empty (not eating for say 7-8 hours) is considered to be a carb depleted run. It's supposed to be good for helping to burn fat stores.

    I've played around with it some. If I'm running more than 8 miles first thing in the morning, I eat before I run. Otherwise I'm usually good to go. I did find in testing it out, running more than 8 miles on an empty stomach, my training run was more difficult than normal.

    So depending on the type of run you are doing, and the distance, might determine whether you decide to run carb depleted.
  • RunnerElizabeth
    RunnerElizabeth Posts: 1,091 Member
    Since I run in the morning and early evening and at lunch time (not usually all 3, but a combination of 2) i have not figured out how to run on an empty stomach. Sometimes my daughter and i have a hamburger on our evening run home. I really hope someone hands me a hamburger during my marathon.
  • DavidMartinez2
    DavidMartinez2 Posts: 840 Member
    so is it because of "bathroom issues" that you all choose to run fasted?

    If I am forced to run shortly after eating I will have a stomach ache and feel like crap. On a race day I get up 3 hours before the start of the race so I can eat well before it starts.
    This, only I don't get up early for anything less than a marathon and even then I eat a cup of Chobani. For a half marathon I will eat a gel in the start corral.
  • becs3578
    becs3578 Posts: 836 Member
    I have something to drink in the morning before a run.. but I can't eat that early and still run. I was be throwing up in the lake the entire time.
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    I run early in the morning before breakfast and drink a small glass of diluted orange juice when I wake up. But that's less for energy and more as a signal to my body that it might want to go to the bathroom before I head out for my run. I do eat breakfast on race day though, 3 hours before the start.

    I think it's supposed to help your body learn to burn fat as fuel rather than relying on carbs. But I just do it because I always have and have never had a problem.
  • TheBrolympus
    TheBrolympus Posts: 586 Member
    I run on an empty stomach or with very little. Anything sloshing around gets very uncomfortable very quickly, especially when pushing the pace. I need all that room for my lung to do their work. :)
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    so is it because of "bathroom issues" that you all choose to run fasted?

    No, it's because of several reason

    1) The food I take in will provide no benefit during the run as it takes a couple hours for it to digest
    2) I'm not generally hungry at 5:30 in the morning
    3) I don't feel like carrying that food around for no good reason
  • CallMeRuPaul
    CallMeRuPaul Posts: 151 Member
    i have a piece of toast with all natural peant butter on it (almost 200 calories) during training and on race days. i once had some oatmeal with blueberies and walnuts on top of the toast and PB during a 4 mile race and my stomach didn't react well after the race. i run 4 miles all the time but not hard like on race day.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    I usually do, but lately I've been grabbing a banana and going just because I wake up very hangry.
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    I usually do, but lately I've been grabbing a banana and going just because I wake up very hangry.

    Oh yeah, good point about the hangry. I do sometimes have a flapjack or something if I wake up late, am planning to run 20+ miles, and know I won't be home till after lunchtime. I don't hit the wall or anything, but I don't want to be hungry and cross because I'm still an hour from home.
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    I run fasted as I get cramping and side stitches if I eat. I can drink fluids but not too much, for the same reason.
  • DymonNdaRgh40
    DymonNdaRgh40 Posts: 661 Member
    I run on an empty stomach or with very little. Anything sloshing around gets very uncomfortable very quickly, especially when pushing the pace. I need all that room for my lung to do their work. :)

    You took the words right out of my mouth:smile:

    I always run on empty