If you an early morning runner, do you eat first?

I do 2x 5km per week at 5.30am and always run faster. Anything over that I tend to eat. I need a while to digest though as I can feel sluggish and get a stitch. I did a 10km race on Saturday and ate overnight oats with fruit at 6.45am. I started running at 9.45 and was fine but I did feel like I could have got a stitch if I pushed anymore. It was probably a bigger bowl than usual though!

I run to work a couple of times a week and don’t eat anything beforehand. And interestingly I can then easily go through to lunch without food, so great for a 14-16 hour fast, depending on how late is eaten the night before. Whereas if I don’t run, I get hungry on the morning commute and it’s a struggle not to get an egg and bacon sandwich on the way in!

But of if I was eating first, agree a banana is the way to go. Or a couple of oat cakes with nut butter of some sort.

Run and cycle fasted but run is only 5k and cycle commute is 9 miles slightly downhill for most of the ride. By the time I’ve got to work and had a shower I’m hungry enough to eat a scabby dog (as they say round here). Might try a few dates though - that’s a good idea from a PP.

I have a banana and sometimes a cup of tea, depending on timings. I struggle to run on an empty stomach too, except for maybe a short easy one.

I always have a cup of tea and if that triggers the prp - pre run poop then I don't need anything else , if not then a small piece of toast for encouragement!
But once that's out of the way I can run straight away !!

If I was running 10k plus I would always have the toast , probs with butter and jam.

I used to run and now I am restricted to weights. Always exercise before 6am.

Can't eat first the moving around would make it come back up and I'd be sick. I did a half marathon on half a dry bagel once.

I can't have any liquid either as I'd wet myself.

Even walking the dogs is done before I eat anything.

I have a protein shake 30 mins before I run in the morning and then take energy gel with me depending on how far I’m running that day

I often run first thing, and prefer to run on just a cup of tea.
anything over 10k, I have a slice of toast with peanut butter.

One hour before running I’ll have a small slice of toasted sourdough, spread with nut butter and a banana. Or just a banana and a coffee.

If I am going swimming I have a normal breakfast (usually cereal, toast or overnight oats). If running first thing I have maybe a thin slice of toast or some yoghurt. I’m usually hungry as soon as I wake up in the morning (or an hour after waking at the latest), but can’t eat much just before running.

When I was marathon training I'd eat 1-2 digestive biscuits whilst doing my leg swings, and then head out the door! It was sufficient fuel for the run and then I would eat breakfast after getting back and showering. You're right to avoid fasted runs as they have a neagtive impact impact on recovery and female hormones, as well as reducing the quality and enjoyment of the run.

I've been experimenting with fueling recently as too much too close to a run make me feel yuck, but so does not enough. I've found a hot chocolate about 45 mins before is excellent and no negative side effects.

I used to run fasted but I hated it. It took a lot of self motivation to get out of the door those days. Nowadays as I work for myself I don't. I was fine doing it I just didn't enjoy it.

What about trying something light like a couple of dates? They are full of sugar so should help and they aren’t heavy so you could try straight away.

I run fasted, up to 8km before work. However, I don’t normally eat til lunchtime anyway so this is normal for me and I always have a couple of energy chews in my pocket in case I get the wobbles. We also eat dinner at 9pm most nights so I think this makes a difference!

More than 10k I would eat but I’d have to get up early enough to eat an hour before. If I eat closer then I get a stitch. Less than 10 I wouldn’t. You could try an energy chew or haribo before you go out, that works for me sometimes if I am feeling shite before a shorter run.

I like to run fasted but do use gels if it’s a longer distance. When I have eaten before a run. It would be toast with jam about 45 minutes prior

I much prefer a fasted run as I feel sluggish after eating. However, a black coffee and a poo are essential before doing more than a couple of miles.

It depends how far I'm running. A hour or less I have a banana, if its longer I have the banana and a small bowl of porridge.

My stomach seems to tolerate both without any issues and without the feeling of food "sitting" in my stomach while I'm running. I basically eat and leave.

I sometimes go out at 5:30 before work and find a squares bar/flapjack/that sort of thing does the trick

I think it depends on how things sit in your stomach. No need to eat anything before a gentle 5k or 10k particularly if you fueled the night before.
For a longer run I would eat but I can eat two pieces of toast with honey and run immediately.

You could always take a gel as you leave the house.

Not a runner, but before a morning gym or cardio session I have a small handful of cashew nuts for an energy boost and I don’t feel it sitting in my stomach

Pint of water and a banana, 45 minutes to digest it. Maybe 1 slice of toast. Any more than that and it is just a guaranteed stitch.

When I used to run longer runs I would take some energy gels to have around the 10km point.