Nutrition before running

[Offthegrid]

I've done two runs before work, and learned a lesson each time. First, a single packet of Gu is not enough. Second, two packs of Gu at a time make my stomach feel sick while running.

What do you eat before a run -- particularly if you run first thing in the morning? (Unfortunately, PowerBar or Cliff Bars are not an option for me because of gluten, but Larabars could be. Just haven't tried it yet.)

[Grog]

I don't eat before running first thing in the morning, unless I have a 1-hour + run planned, in which case I'm likely to try to ingest a little bit of granola, perhaps even with some yogourt, 90 minutes or more before the run.

What do you mean when you say that one packet of Gu is not enough? Did you feel weak? What didn't work for you? What did you eat the night before?

[KSH]

For a morning workout... I would think that is you took in good nutrition the night before and didn't wake up hungry, you could go without any food in your tummy... especially for a run under an hour.

I was talking to my tri coach last night... and he was suggesting that I stop eating hours (2 hours?) before I run... to try to fix my side cramp issue. He said that the food you eat right before you run, doesn't do any good... because it doesn't have time to digest.

If you are doing a slow run, your body will use reserves to pull from to power your body.

He said it's odd learning how to run on a hungry stomach, but it's perfectly fine. I will test this out and see how true it is! Although, when I run hungry, I lose energy.

Maybe you should try some sort of liquid nutrition... although... for a run under an hour... you should be fine with just water. ????

[rocknrollgirl]

I do not eat before I run in the morning. It makes me sick to my stomach. Even if I am hungry, I wait. If I run in the afternoon, I make sure I do not eat for several hours . If I have anything, just a Hammer gel.

[limewave]

I can usually stomach about a half of a banana or half a bowl of instant oatmeal. But I have to have that first thing right when I get up so it has 10 to 15 minutes to settle while I'm getting ready. And I always warm-up with a slow 1/2 mile in the mornings before I take off.

[Offthegrid]

I had the one packet of Gu last time, and I bonked BIG TIME. I could barely walk up the stairs to buy something to eat. This time I tried two packets of Gu, and it upset my tummy.

Keep in mind I burn 500-550 calories when I jog because I'm a big girl. I'm not sure if the standard 1-hour formula applies.

I think banana is next on the list -- that's a good idea. I'd love to try a small slice of banana bread sometime, but I'm out of my gluten-free special flours and can't get more until at least next weekend.

In the past I've pretty much been able to eat whatever on the bike, so this is a bit of new territory. I can't ever eat right before swimming, though, or I do get sick, but I've never bonked while swimming.

[KSH]

I had the one packet of Gu last time, and I bonked BIG TIME. I could barely walk up the stairs to buy something to eat. This time I tried two packets of Gu, and it upset my tummy.

Well, I know that you are trying to lose weight... and sometimes what you eat throughout the day or the night before... affects you hours later in a workout.

One time, when I was trying to lose a few pounds, I got home from a tough 30 mile ride. It was late at night and for some odd reason I thought it would be a good idea not to eat... . To say the least, when I got up the next morning, I could barely walk up my stairs. Once up the stairs I had to lay on the couch and rest.

Exterme example... but you might also look at what you are eating hours before you workout. Are you cutting your calories and not consuming enough?

Otherwise, you might want to try Hammer Gel. It's made out of different ingrediants and it might not upset your stomach like the Gu did. It might be worth trying other brands of gel to see if that settles better.

OH! And when you took the Gu, did you drink a good amount of water with it? Maybe you didn't have enough water to dilute it once in your stomach?

[Grog]

I second KSH: I'd suggest looking in what you eat the night before.

You could perhaps also try some honey or jam for a "real food" feeling. However it shouldn't kick in for at least half an hour, so if you really want to run "first thing" in the morning you should have some reserves to dip into...

Experiment some more and keep us informed! Maybe that time you bonked was just that: one time. Try going for a run without but take a gel or something with you, perhaps? I like Bloks (clif) because I can have them one at a time and they don't make a mess in my pockets if I don't finish the whole 6-pack...

[Wahine]

OTG - as much as I agree with KSH and Grog in most cases, I do think that yours is a little unique. Having said that, you still have to consider carefully what you are eating the night before.

As you said, because you are a big girl you burn more calories in 30 min than I would in 1 hour. Also, I seem to remember that you have a really hard time keeping your HR down. This would suggest that you are working at a higher zone and may be using up your glycogen very quickly because you can't work at a level that allows you to burn fat as a larger proportion of your fuel.

I have two suggestions. First, start learning how to make you own smoothies. You can easily make really good ones that are gluten free. I use yogurt, which I think you can have and you can substitute soy or rice milk for regular milk. These work really well for me. If I only drink 8 to 10 ounces, it holds off the wolves (I'm hungry all the time) and I can still run pretty hard without my stomach getting upset. Becuase it's pretty much liquid, your body should be able to digest it quickly, but ideally you would have one 30 to 45 min before running.

Second. As hard as this is for me to tell you right now, slow down or go back to a run walk interval so your body can use more fat as fuel and your glycogen stores won't be depleted so quickly. I know you have only just gotten to the point where you can run 3 miles in a row, but maybe you should save that for your one hard run per week right now.

I would also suggest trying some different gels. I'm an accelerade girl myself.

[Grog]

Ah! Wahine is so wise. All she writes seems very right.

Smoothies sound like a smart solution, too, and a tasty one to boot!

Good luck OTG. Keep us posted.

[rocknrollgirl]

OTG..consider trying Hammer gels...they do not have simple sugars in them. I switched over to their products last fall, and I have been very happy.

[KSH]

Here is what I found in Runners Magazine:

"One of the biggest nutritional mistakes I see runners making is back-loading their day", says Nancy Clark, author of Food Guide for Marathoners: Tips for Everyday Champions. Clark notes that even experienced athletes often eat too little at breakfast and lunch, only to find themselves famished in the evening hours. The result? Erratic running performance. Instead, start your day off with at least a400-600 calorie breakfast that's high in carbs but also offers some protein and good fats. Think oatmeal with a dollop of yoguart or some trail mix with nuts and raisins.

[violette]

I run at noon, so at around 10am, I'll eat a small banana. But make sure to drink as much water as possible before your run. I try to drink at least 3-250ml bottles. I try to drink them before 11am.

Works for me.

[KnottedYet]

When I run, it's in the morning. Usually before I eat, or depending on my work schedule it may be an hour or two after I eat.

Always I have my coffee. (first thing I do when I get up is make coffee. I am an addict. Caffeine is my friend)

If I'm hungry but need to run RIGHT THEN I will eat a few Clif Bloks. Nice thing about the Bloks is they don't upset my stomach and they don't send my blood sugar on a roller coaster. (and you don't have to eat a full serving, like with gels) No gluten.

Larabars are my other fuel of choice, but they are too heavy for me
to eat before a run. As noted, also no gluten. Costo sells 'em by the case. SKnot eats them, and I have to hide some for my bike rides.

Mind you, my morning runs are only maybe 30 minutes tops. My morning bike rides (where I really do need to eat first or I bonk badly) are 3 hours or so.

[Deborajen]

OTG I seem to remember that you have a really hard time keeping your HR down. This would suggest that you are working at a higher zone and may be using up your glycogen very quickly because you can't work at a level that allows you to burn fat as a larger proportion of your fuel.

This is interesting. I, too, have trouble keeping my HR down and sometimes have trouble "hitting the wall," although not as much lately. I was tested for diabetes a year and half ago and found out that my blood sugar tends to stay at the low end of normal. Maybe I use up glycogen quickly in a similar way. What works for me is consuming Gu in smaller increments more frequently than is recommended. It seems to keep my energy level steady.

For a first a.m. run, I usually eat half a banana 10-15 minutes before starting and that seems to work. Haven't paid much attention to what I eat the night before, but that tends to be my most balanced meal - ?

Guess we're all different. Hope you find something that works for you.

Deb