Talk to me about eating before a long run

[Raggedeannie]

@sessalee cinco I love eggs in general but the idea of eggs before a run makes me gag a little.  Stronger stomachs than I!

OP - I think recommendations for fueling during long runs is usually time-based, not necessarily mileage-based.  Something like if you are out for over an hour, you should start fueling around the 45-minute mark. I think.  But don't quote me on that...

[thom]

I'm also in the banana camp. I'll do white toast with jam too. I usually don't have good luck with nut butter or fat before a long run/race so I avoid it & seem to be okay. I load up the days before on meat, dairy, and protein though. I guess in general I eat a lot of these things.

And I have black coffee. Once before a half marathon I traveled for, I couldn't get regular coffee for some reason. So I drank a bottled Starbucks Frappucinco. Lots of sugar and milk in that bottle... It was not a good idea for me.

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2014 13:46:50 GMT -5 Raggedeannie said:

@sessalee cinco I love eggs in general but the idea of eggs before a run makes me gag a little.  Stronger stomachs than I!

OP - I think recommendations for fueling during long runs is usually time-based, not necessarily mileage-based.  Something like if you are out for over an hour, you should start fueling around the 45-minute mark. I think.  But don't quote me on that...

Which is funny because I have a terrible stomach (IBS). But I eat egg almost daily.

[Wines Not Whines]

Definitely try a lot of different things. I think I'm a weirdo, because if I eat a good carb-filled dinner the night before a long run (like pasta), I can get up the next morning and run 7-8 miles with no breakfast or fuel while running. And I feel completely fine. Once I ate a Clif mojo bar and a banana an hour before a 10-mile race, and it felt like a rock was sitting in my stomach the entire time. So less is definitely more for me.

I'm kind of amazed that other people can eat yogurt or oatmeal and be fine, but it just goes to show that different people react differently. If I did that, my stomach would be extremely unhappy.

I almost always drink a cup of coffee before long runs and races, and surprisingly, my stomach is ok with that. Maybe it's because I drink coffee every day. My husband can't drink coffee before a run.

[lovesherheels]

I'm really surprised at all the diversity of food! Tummies are a personal thing. Thank you so much, everyone! This is so incredibly helpful. I'll definitely be trying some of this on Saturday!

Oh -- and Raggedeannie thank you for the tip on fuel timing. I'll give that a whirl this weekend too.

[Raggedeannie]

Apr 14, 2014 14:53:47 GMT -5 lovesherheels said:

I'm really surprised at all the diversity of food! Tummies are a personal thing. Thank you so much, everyone! This is so incredibly helpful. I'll definitely be trying some of this on Saturday!

Oh -- and Raggedeannie thank you for the tip on fuel timing. I'll give that a whirl this weekend too.

Good luck!  I'm very new at this, too so love reading all the responses!  

This Runner's World article says the following:
In general, runners need to add in 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrate each hour that they are running longer than 75 minutes. But you’ll need to start fueling earlier than 75 minutes into a run; by that time, your tank will be empty, and once you hit empty it is very hard to recover. Start taking in fuel within 30 minutes of hitting the pavement.

[Deleted]

Yeah I agree with the others that said what you eat the 1-2 days before your long run is very important. I can't eat before a run or I'll have to go to the bathroom. So I concentrate on getting high calorie, good foods in the night before.

[Lovecows]

I do 1.5-2 strawberry nutrigrain bars and a latte.

[hannahb]

Apr 14, 2014 9:37:45 GMT -5 boston340 said:

Apr 14, 2014 9:33:58 GMT -5 clseale said:

I'm a PB toast, w/sliced banana runner. 

+1

+2

[spunkypenguin]

Before a short run, I can usually get away with a banana & PB/Almond Butter or a English Muffin w/ Nut Butter. For anything over 10, I bump it up to a whole bagel to get me through.