Running On Empty….? Do you?
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I'm always hungry when I wake up. I NEED FOOD.
Unless it's a short run (8 miles or less) I eat, drink coffee, let coffee do its work, go run.
But again, unless it's long run day, I rarely run in the morning. I prefer to sleep.0 -
I wake up 1 hour to 1.5 hours before leaving for a run and have a small meal and use the bathroom. I have a full breakfast when I get back. Lately I have been running fasted for a couple runs a week when I have no goals in mind, but speedwork and long runs I always have a little something. I also have found I cannot get enough food in during the day if I don't eat both before and after; I am struggling on those days I have been trying out the fasted run, so I will probably go abck to a little something before all runs.
I do not take in carbs during a run unless it is speedwork or 2+ hours long ending in a fast finish/race simulation.
I do not eat low carb.0 -
If it's less than 5 miles, I don't eat. But 5 or more and I eat half a Clif bar (and the second half after the run) or a piece of peanut butter toast or even a half sheet of graham crackers or half a banana. I just feel better running if I do. I'm apparently an anomaly as I can eat any of that and run 5 mins later no problem. I eat either a Clif bar or oatmeal maybe 30 mins to an hour before my long runs (along with coffee so I can go to the bathroom before I leave). I never have GI issues unless I take a gu that has caffeine in it.
Eta: I have no intention of low carb. My runner husband started very low carb last Monday and tried to run 6 miles on Sunday and barely made it 5, deeming it a terrible run.0 -
On my only morning run of the week (Saturday), I run fasted. Anything in my stomach makes me feel sick and I get all kinds of weird pains. My other runs are usually mid-day, either on lunch breaks or to run home from work and those aren't fasted, but I need at least 3 hours between putting anything in my stomach and a run.0
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My weekday runs are generally in the eveing, about 1830-1900 so I'll generally not have eaten since lunchtime. Those tend to be somewhere between 8 -14Km and I'm generally ok, I sometimes have some dried fruit or something about 1600, but not before an interval or tempo session.
My weekend runs tend to be in the >14km range, and more frequently forenoon. I'll generally eat an hour and half to two hours before I go out; porridge, fruit, coffee.
What I have found is the pace of my adaptation. When I started I needed to be much more aware of my fuel state, and suffered quite badly if I didn't fuel adequately. Now I'm much more able to run for longer and harder with less in my system.0 -
I used to run fasted except for long runs, but right now I'm nursing my 9 month old and find that I get light-headed during the run if I don't eat something first. I have always been able to eat/drink a lot before a run and be fine though (I once ate spicy cheetos and went out for a run...absent some heartburn it was actually one of my best runs at that time!)...my current routine is 32oz water before I run plus a 200cal protein bar. I am starting to get away with fasted runs if they are short again but I really have to roll out of bed and go, if I have been awake long enough I need food. I am fairly sure that's specific to nursing though because my stomach is always demanding food when I nurse.
As for low carb I feel better running when I have a 40-50% carb diet. I've done lower, and it's okay, but I feel better doing otherwise, so...I don't low carb.0 -
so is it because of "bathroom issues" that you all choose to run fasted?
No. I run usually at 4am to beat the heat. I couldn't think about eating before my runs that early. Honestly, I've always ran on a empty stomach--I don't quite understand eating before. For my cycling training, I've eaten before long distances, but it's more sustainability of 5+ hours in the saddle. However, I'm training for a 50-mile ultra currently and I might have to rethink eating before for sustainability also. So far, running 20-25 miles is easy enough to eat gels, fruit, and electrolytes during.
As for low carbs, you're on your own there. 80% of my intake is carbs, for high mileage it's a necessity.0 -
As for low carbs, you're on your own there. 80% of my intake is carbs, for high mileage it's a necessity.
I suppose it depends what the OP means by 'low carb' and what you mean by 'high mileage' but I just had a look back through my diary and I average around 45% carbs. I currently run around 50 miles per week. When I was doing 70 mpw I managed more like 50, but even when actively carb-loading I think I only managed 65 and could definitely feel it.0 -
I suppose it depends what the OP means by 'low carb' and what you mean by 'high mileage' but I just had a look back through my diary and I average around 45% carbs. I currently run around 50 miles per week. When I was doing 70 mpw I managed more like 50, but even when actively carb-loading I think I only managed 65 and could definitely feel it.
I'm at about 60 mpw currently. I couldn't see going down to 65%, but I'm 100% plant based. Last year I cycled nearly 10,000 miles for the year (200-300 miles per week). I'm currently training for an ultra to mix things up a bit. If lower carb % works for some people, keep it up. I'm on the CTFU train and it keeps me at a very low BF and allows the long miles recovery fast. 75-80% of my diet is fruit.
I ran 10 miles this morning and plan to bike 60-80 this afternoon. If I was at 45% carbs, I'd never make it off the couch, Ha!0 -
I pretty much always run on an empty stomach. I think its risky to do otherwise but if I was really starving I might eat a small piece of multi grain bread or perhaps a bite of a banana. But that is rare.
I do take a gu now and then during a longer run to eat midway through.
Back in 2003 I did successfully run a marathon on a low carb diet. But that was a one time thing and I probably wouldn't try that again.0 -
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
No for me too... All of these reasons are valid & mainly I don't got the time!! 5:15am wake up... Out the door by 5:30am.. Back by 6:45... Shower eat leave for work @ 7:30... I would love having the time to
Sit out & eat... Let the legs wake up, but I don't. I literally run out of my house after pooping.0 -
I'm not on a low carb diet, but if I eat anything more than a bite within 4 hours of running I get severe side stitches and have to stop. I'll drink a cup of coffee before a morning run or just drink water leading up to an afternoon run.0
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For most morning runs (1 hour or less), I will have my coffee with unsalted butter. It's supposed to help your body learn to burn fat as fuel rather than relying on carbs. If I am going on a longer run, I will top off before going to bed with some carbs (bagel with peanut butter / banana), but I will start the morning off with the coffee/butter just the same.0
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I used to always eat before my long runs and always have something before a race.
But, now I am working on running fasted - so far I've managed a 7 mile tempo run on an empty stomach, and I felt pretty good.0 -
My regular runs (3-6 miles) during the week, I drink some water and head out the door. I drink coffee and eat breakfast after. Before long runs, I get up about an hour before I want to leave the house and eat some granola, drink water, and get pumped
I also fuel during long runs with chews every few miles. But for most of my runs, I'm running on empty.
However, I do prefer running NOT on empty. My runs in the evening that come after two full meals and a few cups of coffee during the day... I average 15-30 seconds faster per mile than I do for the same mileage/courses in the mornings. However, I work until 9 pm most nights, so it's better to get up and run before my morning job than run after my evening one, so I run on empty 5/7 days of the week
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