I decided this weekend since I was going to be up early driving to a group run in Rockville, MD that I would try and eat something before my run. I never do this. For whatever reason, I can not stomach food before a run. Even when I’ve run half marathons, I have to force myself to have a few bits of yogurt beforehand. I thought that since I was going to be awake for an hour or so before my run (unusual for me – I normally hop out of bed and am running within 10 minutes), I’d try to eat a piece of bread with peanut butter. Well, I couldn’t get down a piece of bread, so I managed to eat the crust of a piece of bread with a tiny bit of peanut butter on it.
Well, not really peanut butter jelly time, but close enough! I’m not sure if it was the food, the somewhat cooler temps Saturday morning or the company, but I had a fantastic 6 mile run and felt very good afterwards. Good enough that I’ll try and continue that fueling routine before 5+ mile runs.
Scenes from a great run.
Runner’s World discussed the 16 best things to eat before a run and of course peanut butter was on the list many times. I guess those folks know what they’re talking about 🙂
Do you eat before runs? If so, what do you eat and if not, why not?
I eat if I’m going out for an hour or more. Before yesterday’s race, I had the last bit of a fruit smoothie I made for myself a few days prior and a bowl of cereal at least one hour before my race. Then 15 minutes before my race I ate a Gu Roctane and took a salt tablet.
What is challenging for me is the fact that I usually just wake up and go run immediately. For my longer runs, I’ll have to start waking up early, eating a bite then maybe lying back down before the run.
If I don’t get anything in me an hour before I leave to run. Ill try to eat a banana or drink a protein smoothie so my innards are t completely empty. But yeah, getting up early is the trick
Ah pre race/ pre run fuel is so tricky! It’s different for everyone and you have to experiment to find the right combination for you! Typically, during the week if I am running 3-4-5 miles, I can eat very little and be okay. For longer runs (anything over 6 miles) I usually have a small cup of coffee and a mini-cinnamon raisin bagel w butter and pack some kind of fuel for the road (GU, sports beans,etc).
I LOVE peanut butter but unfortunately it doesn’t love me back and when I eat it before a long run I end up having terrible heart burn..so I usually save it for a post run snack 🙂
Karen @karenlovestorun
Yeah, the great thing is I can figure out all this right now and have my routine perfect by the time I race my marathon in November!
I read an article that said if you eat around 8pm or later, you really can run in the morning without fuel (assuming you’re doing an early morning run). That being said, a lot of times I’ll eat a piece of toast or grilled cheese or something like that. One of the reasons I don’t run in the morning is because of the food issues.
It can be such a challenge to figure out what works! A piece of toast is a great idea!
Have you tried just half a banana? That’s what I like if I’m working out first thing in the morning and want to save breakfast for post-exercise.
I’m actually allergic to bananas, oddly enough 🙂
So good that you fuel before runs! I try to get a good carb/protein ratio in before I do my longer runs. Esp before races. Some kind of bread with a little PB/honey on it is a wise choice.
This whole “eating before I run” thing is new to me, but I definitely think it helps if I’m running longer than 3 or 4 miles!
I love a rice cake or piece of toast/bread with nut butter. It seems to go down the easiest and keeps me feeling pretty good.
I agree – that worked for me this weekend and I’m going to continue eating it to make sure it wasn’t a fluke 🙂
I struggle with finding good fuel on long runs. My go-to is PB on a piece of bread though so I’m no good for you!
It’s a very good standby!
I HAVE to eat otherwise by run is terrible. My go to is peanut butter on an english muffin!!
Even on shorter runs? Or just on your long runs?
I always eat before my runs no matter what the length. It is usually a banana and an English Muffin with peanut butter.
PB is a common theme around these parts! If you are running a short run (4 or less) how much time do you let pass between eating and running?
If I do morning runs I try to eat something at least 30 mins beforehand which is usually when I wake up. So I’ll wake up and fix me some toast with almond butter and banana, or just a banana, or just an apple, or just toast and almond butter. Those are my pre morning run go toos!
That sounds like a great plan!
I have such a hard time with my am runs. I haven’t ever felt bad after though, so I wonder if I really need to eat something. Most of my mid week runs are no more then 5, so maybe I will be okay?
I’m starting to need more time between waking up and hitting the pavement, so I do like to eat something first. Usually a banana or a piece of toast – I don’t have a great solution since we learned about my son’s allergies and cleared out peanut butter, energy bars (due to allergens and the chance of them), etc. out of the house. I’m trying to figure out a good solution!
Big fan of Bearded Brother Bars with a bit of tea or coffee, before long runs. Good source of PRO and FAT, about 300 calories if I remember correctly, and really tasty!
Hmmm, I may have to try those – sounds awesome 🙂
Yes, I have to eat in the mornings – usually my last meal was at 5:30 or 6 the night before, meaning 10-11 hours since my last bit of food! If it is a long run I’ll do cereal or half a bagel with PB&J, if its a short run I’ll do half a piece of toast.
And coffee. Always coffee 🙂
I never eat before a run, like you it doesn’t agree with me. But I fuel up with high carb/protein/calorie endurance fuels. That is enough for me!
If I’m doing a long run or anything over a half marathon, I find that it’s best for me to have something in my stomach. Usually it’s toast with peanut or almond butter or a small bowl of oatmeal – something like that.
As an aside, I’ve recently found that I love peeled, boiled potato slices dipped in salt and dates on my long runs. The contrast between the two is great and they really do seem to give me that extra boost!
That’s a really interesting snack choice — I may have to try that!!