Early Morning Runs
BigJayUK
Posts: 63 Member
At the weekends I tend to run first thing in the morning. The runs vary from 5 to 10 miles at the moment.
At the moment I am running on a empty stomach but still got the energy to complete the runs.
After the runs I tend to have a large bowl of porridge and a protein drink.
I was wondering if this is the right way to go or to take in some food an hour before going for the run.
The main reason for the runs is to lose the weight and my theory is running on the empty stomach will help me to lose the body fat more quickly.
Your thoughts please
At the moment I am running on a empty stomach but still got the energy to complete the runs.
After the runs I tend to have a large bowl of porridge and a protein drink.
I was wondering if this is the right way to go or to take in some food an hour before going for the run.
The main reason for the runs is to lose the weight and my theory is running on the empty stomach will help me to lose the body fat more quickly.
Your thoughts please
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Replies
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I do early morning runs as well, and don't generally have anything before heading out. If I am hungry on rising, I'll have a quick half banana, maybe with some pb. I usually have a bit of trail mix in my pocket in case I get too hungry when I'm out or am running for more than two hours.0
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I like to do my early morning runs on just coffee. Then I try not to over eat when I get back. I have tried to eat an hour or two before a run and, for me, it just does not work.0
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I run on an empty stomach unless my runs are going to be well over an hour, at that point I'll eat something small, like a piece of toast with peanut butter, or a banana with some peanut butter, then I wait a half hour and head out. Sometimes I will just take something small with me, like a gel. The rule is fuel for every hour you're out.... generally. But, go with what works for you and feels good. Everybody is a little different.0
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If I wake up and go run immediately I don't eat unless I woke up hungry. These runs are usually 75 minutes max. But, if I have to drive to a race or to meet a running partner and it is going to be more than an hour before the run starts I generally have something to eat first. The longer the planned run the better I will fuel. Breakfast is then usually a PB sandwich on low GI bread and/or banana. And coffee!!0
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I have the ritual (for our house) of a small serving of Grits and one cup of coffee. Anything more than that and I have to "visit the trees" and anything less than that and I crash.0
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If you are running at an aerobic pace, around less than 75% max HR, and you have built a good aerobic base, you don't need any food, even for long runs because the body will be burning predominantly fat and the glycogen levels won't run low.
If you are running faster than that for over 90 min you might need to eat something several hous beforehand.0 -
I keep a GU on me just in case or if I am really hungry before the run. Otherwise I just run on an empty stomach.0
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I get up and go in the morning, if I don't leave right away I may not go and I can't handle running after eating it makes me too sluggish. Longest I have gone is for 90 mins and I have not had any issues with hunger, but even on the days I don't run I can't eat for the first few hours that I am awake without feeling sick after I eat.0
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I ate before one of my long runs, and burped peanut butter toast the entire run. Never again. I generally use a gu at mile 8 if I'm going over 13 miles, but I figure if I'm running less than an hour, I don't need anything. My longest runs w/o any fuel have been 15 miles and they were a struggle the last few miles.0
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I'm an early morning/empty stomach runner. Short runs, long runs, races, marathons, all on an empty stomach.
On the rare occasion where I'm up early with a race starting a couple hour later I may eat a little. The only thing I can handle eating before I run is gummy bears, tootsie rolls, or Clif bloks. Real food makes me crampy.
Like all other thing in running we are each an experiment with a sample size of one. Just figure what work best for you.0 -
My opinion is that if it is working for you, don't mess with it. However, if you think you could make improvements in your performance, then give it a whirl.
I prefer to run on an empty stomach. Ten miles would require something going in part of the way through, but five would not be an issue. I find that just the process of slowing down to eat then waiting until I can run without getting stomach cramps really messes up my rhythm. I have my best runs first thing in the morning, maybe coffee, but no food. Unfortunately, I like to sleep at least a little and getting up at 3:30 in the A-frikkin-M causes more problems than the running can solve LOL. My boss frowns on naps at work :sad:0 -
I have now learnt my lesson in that you don't tamper with something already working.
I never used to eat or drink before any distance run and the last HM I had a bit of water during the run (as I woke up the morning with a nose bleed, thought I better replenish my fluids) and ended up feeling very nauseous all the way through.
For the next one i might try taking a GU in my training runs and see what happens.0 -
Thanks for the advice guys0
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I run on an empty stomach too as too much food makes me cramp. If im starving i'll have small cookie/sweet to keep me going0
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Jay you have lost 40lbs! You rock! Keep doing what is working for you. Your body is handling it well.
Patsy0 -
I can't eat before I run, so I do run first thing in the morning. I ran my first 10k and had a tummy ache. A veteran runner asked me what I ate- like a dummy I had had coffee with creamer. She said to avoid any kind of dairy, but toast is perfect. Seem people eat peanut butter- but that sat heavy for me. Happy trails!:)0
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When I go for early morning runs, I generally need to eat something about an hour before I head out. Its usually just a small bowl of oatmeal or some toast with peanut butter. But I do need to wait at least an hour before running then. However, I also need to eat within an hour of waking up on non-running days or I feel light-headed. To each his own, though.
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Me too......I can run 6m or 10 km on an empty stomach and my runs tend to be faster. However I usually eat and wait a couple of hours. I also tend to feel too dehydrated in the morning to run on empty. I would never be so brave and run 10 miles on empty. I don t understand how you could run a marathon without eating? Im running my first marathon this year. Last time I ran 24 miles I was so tired . I can't imagine how I would have felt if I had nt eaten. I would love some advice about what you guys think about carb loading before long runs please? Thanks x0
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Wow, am I the only one who likes to eat a lot before running? Now I can go out and run 4-6 miles on a (fairly) empty stomach....but I would at least eat a banana and a small glass of milk or something. Anything longer than that I like to eat my usual breakfast that's at least 500-600 calories. Of course I don't run right out the door after scarfing that down....I usually give it an hour or so to digest a bit first.0
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It's probably earlier morning runners who are replying most. I'm out at 5:00 a.m., and I'm not getting up any earlier than that to eat before my run. Some trail mix in my pocket for if I get too hungry, and I'm ready to go. On a long run day, I don't really have breakfast at all, just an early lunch/brunch.Wow, am I the only one who likes to eat a lot before running? Now I can go out and run 4-6 miles on a (fairly) empty stomach....but I would at least eat a banana and a small glass of milk or something. Anything longer than that I like to eat my usual breakfast that's at least 500-600 calories. Of course I don't run right out the door after scarfing that down....I usually give it an hour or so to digest a bit first.0
