Any runners on here?

[DanceDanceRevolutions]

Anyone got any experience of distance running while on GLPs that they can share?
I'm losing weight on MJ but finding it's really affecting the energy I'm having for long runs; and my Garmin also confirms I'm losing fitness.
My provider (Healand) haven't been massively helpful and just suggested I up my intake of energy gels on long runs. Based on what they've said, I'm not sure they have much experience of this among their clients.
I think I may just have to come off before I get into the next marathon training block.
Any advice welcomed.

Yes. Opposite for me. I’ve lost weight and running is so much easier again. Regaining the fitness I had 15 years ago.

11 months on MJ though and I was quite tired at first, the day after a jab. I just listened to my body and did a bit less that day.

I found this on the lower doses, after a month on 12.5 suddenly running was pleasurable again!

This is really interesting - what sort of distances are you running @Claudette7934 ?

I’ve always been a runner and until my early 40s did everything from 5ks to half marathons. Perimenopause and injury saw me pile on the weight and although I was still a runner in my head, I was shuffling a few times a week. 3/4 miles at most.

Now back to properly training. 30+ miles a week,2 decent hill/speed sessions and absolutely loving it again. I got injured and had 3 months out earlier in the year and thought i would have lost loads of fitness. Turns out being skinny makes it so much easier to get back to fitness and run at a decent pace.

I did struggle for a bit, then realised I was focussing so much on protein. I started making sure I had some carbs before a run (not immediately obviously!) and that helped.

I'm a runner and also starting a marathon training block soon. I had been hoping I could get to target by the New Year but I've got 6kg left to lose so I'm still going to be on MJ until probably the end of January. I remember the constant hunger from last winter/spring when I was training for my first marathon so I don't know whether to stay on a maintenance dose or what to do as I need to get the balance of fuelling properly but not over-eating. I'm also unsure how my stomach will react to gels etc as I've not gone further than 14km since starting MJ.

I took 6 months to lose 3 stone and I really struggled with exercise during that time. I went from cycling 4 times a week and running 3 times to cycling a couple of times a week. I was just exhausted, lacking motivation and couldn’t get myself out the door. I’ve now titrated down to 3.75mg every two weeks and I’m loving running again. My distance is building nicely - I’m sure it’s nothing compared to you but I’m doing 5k, 8k and a longer run (this week 12k) each week with a view to doing a half in Feb and a full marathon on September. (That’s on top of cycle commuting 4 days and a couple of light weight training sessions) The mental struggle of fuelling myself vs wanting to maintain my losses is tricky but I love how good running feels now I’m slim.

I guess it depends how much you want to lose weight and how big a part of your life running is but for me it was worth putting fitness goals on hold while I lost the weight because I can already see how much being 3st lighter has helped my running.

What distances? I’ve done several 10km runs - just need to make sure your muscle glycogen is topped up before you run (eg some carbs!) I can’t run when I’m close to ketosis. Not sure what you are eating??

I'm marathon training, so long runs are 15+ miles at the moment.

So for that need to be fully tanked up on carbs as each run will deplete glycogen stores.

I’m in the same boat, OP. Marathon training and have no appetite at all so forcing down carbs. Not much energy either so I often can’t be bothered to do anything anyway. I’ve found a bagel is ok, and some Huel

When is the marathon and how much weight to lose? Sounds very difficult. I’m more into weight lifting, so I need to eat enough to gain muscle, but not too much that I gain fat!’ I’ve got to goal, thinking of taking a gap between pens to see how I go.

I’m at my target weight (as of yesterday!) and I have two spring marathons. I’ve been circuit training alongside but I definitely have to step things up now. I haven’t actually had a dose for 15 days now, I still have zero appetite from the last one (max dose of wegovy)

Well done to you for reaching your goal!

For me eating enough protein was the key, also not losing crazy fast (which seems healthier anyway). I’m tracking on an app which keeps track of calories but also protein, carbs etc. I’ve been doing a lot of strength and conditioning and weights which I think helps. I’ve found having less weight to cart around makes a world of difference, overall I feel more energetic.

I did a my most recent half marathon whilst losing weight on MJ. I realised that I just had to change my usual protein loaded breakfast for a carb heavy one, and make sure I fueled as I ran too on long run days.

I did quite a few ten plus miles run during my training, and after the first one which I bombed due to poor fuelling the rest went ok. Obviously they are still pretty short runs though compared to marathon training.

i am now at goal and have gradually increased my calories to 2500 a day, which lets me hit my protein goals still and have loads of carbs and my pace has really picked up .

I am planning on staying on this medication forever (finances allowing) as I have no Side effects at all, can eat enough to fuel properly but have no food noise anymore. (I have lost and gained the same few stone too many times over the years to kid myself if I stop I won’t regain the weight)

As someone else coined it beautifully, I am now eating to live, not living to eat. And I am so grateful

Good luck with the marathon.

Can I ask a question please, I need to lose just under 2 stone. I used to be a runner and did all distances but my peri weight gain has completely reduced me to shuffling around up to 5k a couple of times a week. I find that challenging and I’m very conscious of how I look.
I don’t know much about these injections or have any idea where to start. Would anyone be able to give me some pointers?
What happens once you have achieved your goal weight? Do you carry on to stop? Sorry if this sounds basic but I don’t know where to start🤷‍♀️

So from this thread so far I think we only have one other runner who has been doing long marathon training runs and they're struggling too. It's not looking that positive!

I've been forcing down what I can but it's not enough really, and I can see my fitness levels decreasing compared to where I was last year. I'm going to come off completely until May and then see where I'm at.

Yes, it won’t work unless tanked up on carbs before each run. So if you can’t eat enough maybe need a break.

I did a half. It was fine. I’d seen friends lose muscle/energy and was keen to avoid that.

I'm not struggling with half distances either. It's the long runs that I'm finding problematic.