What and when do you eat when you go running?

[Elf]

I'm about to start running, or maybe puffing a lot while staggering about - we shall see.

Anyway, what should I do?

A banana an hour before and eat when I get back?

Is it bad to run on an empty stomach if I go first thing in the morning?

Any knowledge gratefully received.

i get up at 5.45am and go out for a run. I don't have anything to eat although i do have a drink of water or juice before i go.
I don't feel ill for not eating before I go and I started this on Aug bank holiday, I run for approx 30mins monday,wednesday,friday and 45mins on saturdays.

I find the first 10mins are the hardest to get through but once i'm past that i feel fine!!!
hth xx

thanks frangipan. Sorry for the delay in replying - illness and internet problems. Thanks for your personal info! I'm glad to hear I wouldn't collapse in hunger if I went on an empty stomach.

It depends what your stomach is like - mine is dodgy, so I must be sure to have at least two hours between eating and running (otherwise, I need to find a toilet while out!). Other people need less time, some even need more.

I get up, have breakfast around 7, run around 9 (after school run). I don't find I'm hungry when I get back, not right away, anyway.

If I run in a morning I can have a banana and go out within 10 minutes and not have a problem. dh can't eat anything for a couple of hours before he runs. It really does depend on the person I think.

Good luck with it!

Oh, there are lots of beginner runner threads on here, by the way. Please do get a good bra, and good shoes. And try running for a minute, walking briskly for two, then running for a minute. That way you can build up to running all the time.

seconding the good bra and shoes form NQAC.
completerunning.com/archives/2006/09/12/100-beginner-running-tips/
this site is quite useful I found, hope you enjoy it....xx

More info - great. Yes it makes sense that everyone is different. I must say, I haven't yet felt like going first thing, although I did think I would. I'll also just have to see how my stomach reacts.

I've got the shoes but you are right, I do need a proper bra. I love the tip about running for a minute and then walk briskly for two. I've found that in my first two days of running I can only run for about a minute so that sounds like a great tactic to feel I can keep going and am building up to something. And not just being crap.

Thanks for the link too.

Onwards and upwards .......

if timing the minutes breaks your concentration you can use landmarks for example, running 2 lamposts then walking 1. Or you could use anything e.g telephone boxes,sideroads,gates etc, when the going gets tough I say to myself that i'll run to the next side road and then when I get there I find another point to focus on and even if I slow right down I manage to keep up momentum, what works for one person doesn't for another, I find timing myself drags it out but others will find it spurs them on.Good luck and enjoy it!
xx

I started running last christmas and do 4k 3 x a week

I used this podcast and this nice man tells you when to run/walk and before you know it you're running and running and runing!

oooh thats good furball!

Wow that's brilliant Furball. I've been thinking about taking up running recently and have been trawling through the Runners World site today looking for begginers info, but will give the podcast a go!

How's it going Elf?

I run in the evenings with a club at 7pm. I have beans on toast no later than 5pm.

I find if I leave less than 2 hours, I can feel acid in my throat, like heartburn.