Active Community: Message List - What to eat before running?

Re: What to eat before running?

pauleybaby — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:45:20 GMT

Good on the bread and honey (simple and complex carbohydrates), but I would skip that banana, as you don't need it and it may in fact interfere with your performance if eaten so soon before the starting gun.

Re: What to eat before running?

Rschw — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:33:31 GMT

Hi, I am still figuring the food thing out. Running to loose weight and train for 5K. But active.com has several interesting articles about food and running that have helped me. I did notice a huge improvement in my stamina and energy level by eating a little something as suggested in this article:

http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/5_Nutrition_Missing_Links__Expert_Advice_for_Athletes.htm

Hope it will help you.

Robin

Re: What to eat before running?

Imgellin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:23:15 GMT

Eat 3 hours before the half marathon? Thanks for the advice. I don't know if I will ever get up to that distance (I'll start running 10K's starting in March or April), but it's good to know that there are people at this site who have done these longer runs and are good enough to part with their knowlege of nutrition. Since I am only running 5K's now, I don't alter my eating much pre-race. I just eat bread and honey two hours before, like before training runs, and have a banana 30 minutes before the race.

To tell the truth, though, for the rare training runs when I did not eat at all before, I did not suffer any less energy or lack-of-performance. I guess the nutrition starts to play in increasingly important role in the longer races and runs.

Re: What to eat before running?

pauleybaby — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:13:16 GMT

Spot on. I agree absolutely. A small, easily digestible meal of about 400-500 calories consisting of a mix of simple and complex carbohydrates about 3 hours before the race (especially a half marathon or marathon) is a must.

Re: What to eat before running?

Imgellin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:09:09 GMT

Angel, don't get nervous.., get happy! You'll love it. Just remember not to start off too fast. If you let yourself get hurried at the beginning, then you might feel some fatigue toward the end of the race. It's almost fall, so temps will be cool and it will be easy to breathe. I'm running my fourth 5K this weekend. I guess I'm nervous, too, but in a good way!

Re: What to eat before running?

Angel — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:02:59 GMT

I am also a Newbie runner and have my first 5k this weekend. I am getting quite nervous and appreciate all the advice available on this site.

Re: What to eat before running?

Imgellin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:00:41 GMT

I think we should make a clear distinction between what we do for training and racing. On race day, we need to be adequately fueled, rested and stretched.

Re: What to eat before running?

pauleybaby — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:52:09 GMT

If you're going from the couch to 5km then you clearly have quite some way to go (both figuratively and literally). If fat has been accumulated on the couch, then the best way to shed it is to work out on an EMPTY stomach. This way you burn up to 40% extra body fat. It's a technique used by everyone from marathon runners to bodybuilders.

Re: What to eat before running?

Imgellin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:32:28 GMT

Michelle, when I clicked on Reply earlier, somehow, it showed a different post from someone with a knee problem, so i figured I'd combine the two.. I don't know how often that kind of error happens at this site. Just remember not to run on thursday. Ok?

Re: What to eat before running?

leavitt1 — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:32:05 GMT

Thanks for the tips Paul. Are you confusing me with someone else about the knee issues though? I don't remember saying anything about my knees bothering me...One is aching a bit today, but I don't think it is a knee issue so much as a muscle issue. Thanks again.

Michelle