A lot of my runs I'm out the door by 4:45 a.m. and I never eat anything before. I always have a bedtime snack and find that works out great for me and I always eat peanut butter toast within a half hour afterwards.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by NGeorgiaTR:
Normally, there is no reason to eat before anything less than a few hours. Any hunger pangs you have will go away 15-20 min after you get moving.<HR>

Actually, I think this one really varies person-to-person - some people can get weak, dizzy, etc if they don't eat at all before an am run. I'd say you don't have to eat, but if you feel hungry or weak during your run, try having a snack beforehand. It is also beneficial to be able to run with something in your stomach, since you will probably want (at least a little) breakfast before your race.

yep, you are totally Ok with that, but make sure to EAT or drink something as soon as you are done to help recovery.
I tend to harp on this but a friend of mine who does mega miles, runs a 230 marathon like nothing and ultras as well, swears on this, even if you dont feel like it, have something as soon as you are finished. It really helps recovery and since I have started to do this, eat a snack before my shower, I feel so much better and am able to run more.
When the runs get longer then you might want something before, but under an hour you are fine with nothing before.

As you apparently suspected... It depends on how long your runs are and your personal needs. For anything less than about a two hour run, I'm good with nothing to eat. When I get up around 16-18 miles, I start eating as soon as I get out of bed. Since my pre-long run routine also includes some toilet time, this often means munching a Cliff Bar while sitting on the throne. This still means I can get up, do my business, eat,, get dressed, and be out the door in 20 minutes or so. Hey, it works for me. Experiment. You'll figure out what works for YOU.

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Well, my routine in the mornings is have coffee, let my bowel wake up (sorry for the TMI), run, then walk 2 to 3 miles as a cool down. And I wake up hungry, possibly because I don't snack after dinner. Given that I don't get to breakfast for around 3 hours after waking, I usually eat a banana in that hour before I run. I don't think it's a necessity to fuel the run, just to keep my stomach from growling while I work out.

I'm also out early in the morning (4:30, usually), and the only thing I have before is a glass of water to help empty my system before I head out the door. I'm also in the camp of having something very soon after I get back, and, for me, a banana works best. It is quick, easy, satisfying, and almost always helps alleviate any residual post-workout achiness. If I'm going on a long workout, I'll probably take some water and Sharkies with me, but still won't eat before heading out the door.

I have a completely different routine before a race, but then I also have a few hours, instead of a few minutes between when I wake up and when I have to get going.

The best bet, as others have suggested, is to try different approaches so you can find out what works best for you.

Jay

Regular morning runs during the week, I'm empty. For evenings or on race mornings - when I have the luxury of time - I'll have an apple or sometimes and a banana about an hour before.

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