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Click to view Miss Diana's profile Amateur 9 posts since
Sep 14, 2006

Sep 28, 2006 2:55 PM

Running while fasting for Yom Kippur?

Is it a really terrible idea to run either in the early morning or mid-afternoon during Yom Kippur? I plan on fasting (no food or water all day), but I'd really also like to get my run in. It's not a long run-- just day 2 of week 5 of the C25K. Opinions?
Click to view Grizzly039's profile Legend 451 posts since
Nov 1, 2006
1. Sep 28, 2006 3:07 PM in response to: Miss Diana
Up to you. I've had long runs with nothing to eat before and nothing to dring during (camelback broke) and survived, but I had something to eat afterwards. That said, if it is C25K you should be fine.
Click to view boosiebutt's profile Pro 101 posts since
Jul 25, 2006
2. Sep 28, 2006 5:25 PM in response to: Miss Diana
I always run early morning, after fasting all night, with no drink or water right before I go. I'm just finishing C25K, and don't really notice much of a difference between running at night after a full day's eating, or running in the morning after not eating.

It might make you hungrier during the day, but this early in the program it shouldn't be too big of a deal to get through.
Click to view Ariann092's profile Legend 681 posts since
Jan 4, 2005
3. Sep 28, 2006 11:06 PM in response to: Miss Diana
It might not kill you, but I would certainly be extremely unhappy to run without having had water for a while and not being able to have water for several more hours.

Besides which, and I mean this with all respect, if you're trying to get a run in, you're missing the point of the fasting in the first place. The symbolism of Yom Kippur, besides the idea of fasting for repentance, is that we are supposed to behave as if we are DEAD and being judged. The dead do not eat, drink, or have any comforts (bathing, perfume, leather shoes), and they certainly don't run. What is the purpose of your fast if it's not going to lead you to the spiritual dimension of the holy day and it's just another day to squeeze in a run?
Click to view aurang's profile Legend 1,362 posts since
Jun 26, 2003
5. Sep 28, 2006 11:32 PM in response to: Miss Diana
I'm fasting as part of Ramadan from pre-dawn to sunset and I've kept running. I've kept the runs to 45 minutes so far and haven't had any problems. The first run was after not having eaten for almost 24 hours (I ran just before dinner, not having eaten in the morning) and I felt fine. It takes experience to be able to do it, but it seems as though your workouts are short enough to be manageable.

I have run as long as nine miles while fasting and it seems to work best to run right before you break your fast, for obvious reasons. I would run in the morning but I never do that as it is and I think I'd be hurting myself by going without food and water for 8-10 hours. Again, with shorter/easier runs it's not an issue, but it is when you do hard workouts.
Click to view moroccangirl's profile Pro 68 posts since
Aug 16, 2005
6. Sep 29, 2006 1:24 AM in response to: Miss Diana
I agree with aurang. I am also fasting for Ramadan (Salaam aurang). I do my workout/run right before it is time to break my fast. If I ran in the morning, I would die at just the 'thought' of not being able to eat or drink for the rest of the day, whether I was thirsty or not. I try to drink ALOT of water during the night, and sometimes I wake up early in the morning to drink water during times of fasting.
Click to view runforthechilis's profile Amateur 8 posts since
Aug 7, 2006
7. Sep 29, 2006 8:17 AM in response to: Miss Diana
Any training program worth its salt has some wiggle room in it for injuries, "off" days, or scheduling conflicts. You should be able to either switch days around or even skip a training day or two with no adverse effects on your long term goal.

That being said, I actually took a survey at our local RRCA club meeting last night and none of them are running on Yom Kippur, although they thought that it wouldn't hurt them, as long as they ran close to the end of the fast. 24-25.5 hours is a long time without food or water, water being the most important thing here. Just be careful and tell someone when and where you're running in case you don't fare well.

I'll be thinking of you as I sit in shul, sitting and standing and sitting and standing and sitting and standing...

Good luck
Click to view Ariann092's profile Legend 681 posts since
Jan 4, 2005
8. Sep 29, 2006 9:48 AM in response to: Miss Diana
quote:<HR>Originally posted by Miss Diana:
Ariann- I'm not religious at all actually--- this is more of something I do as part of tradition, along with the rest of my family. I suppose I could just not fast at all, but I've been doing so ever since my bat-mitzvah, so I'd feel oddly guilty about that. Good point though...if I were religious and followed the holiday for that reason, I would agree with you 100% and not run, go to class, etc.<HR>


Understood, we all have our own reasons.