2015 Running Thread Part 5

[actiongirl1978]

Hi everyone, new thread started!

Anglaise I think that's it- the swallowing is just effort and there never seems like a good time to do it. Uphill- interferes with your breathing. Downhill- need both hands free in case you trip. I think for drinking I'll have to set an alarm on my watch or something. It's getting ridiculous.

Suzanne weather was quite kind yesterday. Both peaks were in the cloud and it was quite windy plus the rain held off till after I finished. Could have been a lot worse.

twobambinos Sorry you had a bad race. Hope the blisters get better soon. I always get blisters on my big toe joints too. I pop, let it dry out and then get it bladed off at the pedicurist.

Well done AggressiveBunting and twobambinos!

Did my 5k Parkrun replacement run at 7:15 this morning before dh went out and got a PB 29:22! Probably because it was flatter than Parkrun and on road. Although I'm wondering if the fact that I did it on an empty stomach made a difference too.

Ooh - forgot to add it. 918.47

Congrats on your PB Holmes and don't put yourself down. A PB is a PB!

Empty stomach = less blood needed by the digestive system and therefore more for the legs! ?
?

Thanks Neeko ! Suzanne - that's interesting. Maybe I should do Parkrun on an empty stomach. The thing is I'd be pretty hungry by 9:00!

?I agree it can be tricky to prepare yourself mentally for running if you are hungry because it is past your normal meal time.
Running because it is so energy intensive usually means that the blood supply is diverted away from the digestive system and it effectively goes into 'sleep' mode.
For me that tends to mean that whilst my stomach is empty and I've not eaten for 10 to 12 hours I don't actually feel hungry whilst running.
Hunger tends to come on about half an hour after I stop

hello. I am sorry I am not chatting although I do love the chat. I am consumed with school appeals for dd and other family stuff. I am still managing to get out fairly regularly - although looking dodgy over the next few weeks.

Anyway 6.5 from me today - this is the furthest in 4 years or more and it was fine. A new route - cannot believe how suddenly places I would have driven to suddenly feel closer.

924.97

Well done Holmes I would love to get under 30 mins but not even close (tho I am getting there)

Congrats on your PB Holmes! There shouldn't be any problem with doing it on an empty stomach. I do nearly all my runs in the morning on an empty stomach because of my GI problems, and will do my 23km race on an empty stomach in 2 weeks time. Anything to avoid a pitstop! I'll eat plenty of pasta the day before.
11.4 miles this morning (no breakfast)
929.87

10k race for me today... with a raging hangover.
my pb is 45 mins.... i took an hour...

OMG lastqueen! I wouldn't dream of going for a jog down the road with a raging hangover, never mind running a race - kudos!

Still - well done on your longer run. I always feel more pleased with myself about increased distance than increased speed for some reason.

Anglaise - I get a bit of tummy trouble sometimes after running (never during though, thank goodness). It's only when I've really pushed myself though - sometimes distance-wise, but usually speed-wise. I'm not sure that running on an empty stomach really helps me with that though (it didn't this morning) because I've got a fairly slow digestive system (tmi) so can still have problems when I run the morning after I've eaten!

19 miles on a beautiful but breezy Sunday morning. Up one of the local glens and up onto the Munro at the end before coming back along another glen with wind behind us for the return journey.

I always have my porridge (good scots girl ) before any run over about 8 miles, otherwise I run out of energy. Added to that today with a flapjack and 2 gels (horrid but they work for me). Did used to run with nothing but found food does keep me going for longer, especially on the uphill sections. As with many others, though, the stomach pays for it afterwards .
Holmes PB is great, well done. Any high intensity training or running with recent food does make me sick so park run without would probably be a good idea.

Aggressive two very well done on your races and lastqueen the important thing is you did it and I'm sure (eventually) you feel better for having done it

19 + 6.2 (last queens) + 929.87 = 955.07 done on calculator, too tired to do mental maths!!

I've never tried gels. Are they as revolting as I think they would be? I think I'll start taking a little snack with me now that I'm running further. I've only ever had one complete running-on-empty nightmare, but it was quite bad! I was up on the Ridgeway quite a way from anywhere and thought I was going to pass out! Managed to stagger as far as a garden centre café and inhaled a piece of cake (to the point that the woman at the next table was a bit !).

Well done to all the racers and the PB getters and

twobambinos sorry you didnt enjoy your hm. Well done for continuing anyway, it is so much harder when mentally you just want to be somewhere else. Are there any 10milers near you? That can be quite a nice distance if you wanted to extend from a 10k but not do a hm.

aggressive have you ever tried a camelback for rehydrating on the move? I use one for hill walking and it is great. Haven't tried for running as I don't need at the distances I do. Because it forms a vacuum as it empties it doesn't slosh around irritatingly as the level goes down ( at least, not while walking). It would add weight of course, but if you already carry your own water but just forget to access it regularly it might help.

holmes I am another one who runs better on empty, for shorter distances anyway. My best parkruns have always been with no breakfast. I take a cereal bar or some jelly babies with me if I am going for a longer run up in the hills just in case. I loathe gels, can't stand the taste or texture (vomit)

4.2 intervals early this morning.
955.07 + 4.2 = 959.27

those who eat gels or jelly babies etc on long runs, I'm just wondering, how long does it take typically to feel the extra energy boost after you've eaten the sweetie of choice?

I've never felt an extra boost as such, only that I was able to sustain the pace for longer when I might usually start flagging.

Tbh suzanne I'm not really sure. Although I take them with me on hill runs I have never actually needed to take them, although sometimes do just for a treat at the end. I don't take them on long road or low level trail runs as I reckon I could just walk / flag down a car if I'm really struggling, but I wouldn't want to be up in the hills alone without. I have a rucksack on hill runs with water/phone in too, none of which I take on other runs, so it's no bother to carry a snack too.
Some of our local hms have jelly babies at the last 2 (usually 8 and 10 miles) water stations and I usually pick a couple up as I run past ( although I don't need the water unless it's very hot). I'm not sure if the jelly babies help me mentally more by giving me something to focus on and enjoy for a bit rather than just a physical boost. I'm sure they do help physically too, but not all hms have them and my average times don't seem to be any better with or without them.

oh, I see, that makes sense, sometimes we just need something to relieve the suffering!

It takes about 10 minutes for any glucose-based product to work, so you are supposed to take gels before you actually feel like you need them - they are to keep you going rather than pick you up It gives you a glucose hit almost straight into the bloodstream for your muscles to use, instead of your body needing to burn fat (which itself uses up energy) once your glycogen stores are depleted.

I sometimes just pop a jelly baby/tangfastic in the corner of my mouth and let it melt rather than chewing and swallowing it on a long run.

I take the gels at certain points were I think if i carry on I will start flagging, today was at about 13 miles and again at about 16. Ate my flapjack much earlier, its yummy though . I'm not sure if I "feel" the effect, rather I just don't think I flag as much. Its often about trying to eat before you "need" to eat, but it can be difficult to time it right. On the MM I was crap (think also because of the cold) and so ended up staggering pathetically near the end.

family I use a camelback for some hill runs, its in a small sack with my waterproofs/gloves/phone etc. It does make a noise when running, but quietens when you get through it.

I have to sit down and rest for a good half our or so after eating the smallest amount of food there is no way I could eat a flap jack during a run, eating makes me feel more tired

I suspect gels etc are probably unnecessary for most people until you are doing those kind of distances run. I have only run up to about 14 miles max and really have never felt the need but totally see that longer runs would need additional energy. I am looking at stepping up my mileage over the next year so will prob start experimenting then. I will bear in mind to take them before I start flagging, I hadn't been aware of that.
Might try camelback for running too then. For in the hills I usually take a small rucksack with space for small water bottle, snack, warm jacket, phone and a map ( although don't need map now as I know my way around). The camelback pack didn't have enough space in it for everything else and I didn't need that much water. I have just got basic model from years ago, I wonder if yours is a bit bigger with more space for extras?

And meant to say yes suzanne, anything to take my mind off the suffering is welcome

Your body is capable of running 2 hours without additional fueling. I hate gels, you need to take in a lot of water when you use them, they are disgusting and I'd rather do without. I take a camelback on long trail races (2L) no more because it weighs too much and you can fill up on the very occasional water/food station. For road races there are always plenty of food and water stations so you don't really need to take your own food and drink.
Sorry to say but I think the whole gel/carb drink thing is a huge marketing opportunity and I'm really not sure how much they are needed. I did my marathon with no food, the occasional carb drink but that was all. When I look at my nearest Decathlon store what used to be hardly a metre long shelf of food/drink suppements, is now 10m long!