What do you guys eat before a 5+ mile run?

[Kimmyt]

This morning I had half a bagel with butter, and a small slice of cantelope. If I have some time between eating and when I start moving, like a race morning, I can eat some cereal and milk b/c it won't be all sloshy by the time I run. But i really like the solidity of half a bagel, it makes me feel full without feeling like I have a brick in my stomach.

K>

[jesvetmed]

If I'm just getting up and going soon, I'll have a banana and water. But if I'm going to go in more than an hour, I'll have cereal, banana and soy milk, and a few bites of cottage cheese. It all seems to settle fine by an hour later.

[emily_in_nc]

A Clif bar holds me comfortably for a five-mile run.

[rbs4fun]

Most of the time if I get out of bed to go for a run, Gatorade only. But if I will be up more than 2 hours before my run, a banana or instant oatmeal works well for me.

[michelem]

This is interesting. When I run in the morning, I run on an empty stomach. Granted, I'm only running for about an hour-and-a-half and it is said that one doesn't "need" to eat unless exercising for 2 hours plus. Also, I don't bring fluids with me on my runs, but drink quite a bit the day before and when I get home and throughout the rest of the day. If I eat or drink before I run, I end up getting stomach pains andn needing to go to the bathroom . . .

I ran a 1/2 marathon late last year and sucked on Clif Shot Blocks throughout the race. That worked well for me.

[rocknrollgirl]

I can't eat before I run. If I run in the am, I go on an empty stomach. If I run in the afternoon, I have to make sure that my last meal was 3-4 hours before I run. My stomach gets really upset if I run with food in it.

[Kimmyt]

So I think the take home message for people is 'different strokes, different folks'



Honestly I couldn't imagine doing a 1.5 hour run with no water at this point in the summer, but then I'm in the swamp that the Mid-Atlantic currently is. Nothing better than 80% humidity at 7 in the morning!

K.