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Click to view blasto333's profile Amateur 16 posts since
Mar 13, 2008

Jun 19, 2008 5:25 PM

Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?

Height: 5ft9
Weight: 150bs
Gender: Male

5-6 days a week, I wake up at 6am (go to sleep around 9:30-10:00pm) and run for 40 minutes (about 5.5 miles). It is a pretty easy run (as I have been running for 5 months). I run to stay in shape and enjoy it a lot.

I am noticing that I don't have a lot of energy in the morning (until about 11am). (Sometimes I don't even have energy for the whole day). I work as a programmer primarily sitting for most of the day.

My diet usually consists of:

Pre-run meal (6:00am)

  • english muffin w/ Jam
  • Nonfat yogurt with Fiber One

Breakfast (7:30-8:00am)
  • 2.5-3 cups of Honey Bunches of Oats + skim milk + bannana

Late morning snack (10:30-11:00am)
  • 2 medium sized apples
  • 1 Nature valley bar

Lunch (1:00pm)
  • Turkey + lettuce + peppers + onions + cheese wrap (large burrito sized wrap)
  • Yogurt + fiber one

Afternoon Snack (3:30pm)
  • 1 Nature Valley Bar

Dinner (6:00pm)
  • 8 oz Salmon
  • 2 toast w/ Jam
  • Large serving of brocolli
  • small apple

What can I do with my diet/running schedule to have more energy in the day? (NOTE: I don't want to resort to coffee)
Click to view lenzlaw's profile Community Moderator 3,085 posts since
Jan 18, 2008
1. Jun 19, 2008 6:47 PM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?
Maybe you're destined to be an evening runner. Some people are energized by their run, others are not. I'm one of the "nots". The other thing you could check is the Glycemic Index of the foods you eat. Maybe you need to move to more low glycemic index foods (I didn't check on what you're eating now.)


Len

Click to view tuctam's profile Amateur 14 posts since
Dec 1, 2007
2. Jun 20, 2008 11:11 AM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?

I was having the EXACT same issue. Two things I did made a notable difference for me. The weather where I live has increased in temp alot which made my 5:00 am run about 80-85 already. I slowed down on my LSD days by almost a minute per mile. My body needed time to adjust to the difference in climate. The next thing I did (which I am almost embarrassed to mention) I was not hydrated "properly". I drank plenty of water but I have a hard time stomaching sport drinks of any brand. I finally found Nuun that I can tolerate and once I was level with electrolytes etc..... I feel like a new person.

For me that helped alot so I hope it can also help you.

Click to view lenzlaw's profile Community Moderator 3,085 posts since
Jan 18, 2008
3. Jun 20, 2008 11:44 AM in response to: tuctam
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?

Tuctam makes a really good point. How is your hydration? 40 minutes doesn't sound like much but I started with less running than that and I wasn't hydrating properly and I ended up with kidney stones. The best way to check is with urine color. It should be a pale, "lemonade" yellow.


Len

Click to view RunYourCity.com's profile Rookie 6 posts since
Jun 19, 2008
6. Jun 20, 2008 6:18 PM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?

I used to have the same problem. It looks like you are getting adequate sleep, so besides the other suggestions that people have made I would also consider these:

1. Try eating a more hefty breakfast, within 30 or 45 minutes of finishing your run.

2. I noticed that you've been running for 5 months. Have you been steadily increasing your volume the whole time? You should have periodic recovery weeks planned. For one week, try cutting the volume by alternating 40 minute and 20 minute days. Also, try taking one extra day off during that week.

I hope that helps. Honestly, I used to get like that regularly. Your body just hasn't adapted to the new volume of training you are doing. Soon enough, you'll be feeling fine and ready to do more... I used to work in tech, and I have to say that you are the only programmer I've ever known to go to bed so early. I'm impressed!

Best of luck,

Ryan

Click to view lenzlaw's profile Community Moderator 3,085 posts since
Jan 18, 2008
8. Jun 20, 2008 8:13 PM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?

Hmm . . . a couple things. An absolute minimum of 64 oz of fluid per day. More than that is better. Think pale yellow. Water is good but so are any number of other beverages, preferrably non-caffeinated, though a little won't hurt. Alternate hard days and easy days, this was also suggested by someone else. Or do cross-training one or two days a week, or just take an additional rest day. The idea of a back-off week every fourth week or so is also a good idea. Cut your mileage to about 75% of normal for that week.


Len

Click to view Radar Runner's profile Amateur 11 posts since
Jun 20, 2008
9. Jun 20, 2008 10:11 PM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?

Hey, this maybe of service to you just because I had the same problem with being unenergized and it really happend to me after not running alot and then starting some type of excersize into my daily life. I figured out that I was hypoglycemic, and noticing your height and weight this is something that you may have. This basically means that your blood sugar is low; and the only difference is that perhaps instead of having high fiber diets with little fats, which i noticed you have been doing; you may need to have some fatty foods with lots of protein. For instance, if you use Natural Peanut Butter from skippy along with your nature valley bar that is something which is a long digestive item which allows energy to be slowly released. Honestly im not sure whether or not this is your problem because I am not a nutritionist, but perhaps it would not hurt you to consult with one. I know for me there was nothing that I could do to stay awake and after I consulted with one I have what appears to be a wealth of energy throughout the day. I also did notice that the other people in this thread have given you some great information so if you utilize everything here im sure you will get some of your energy back. Also you may want to look into Whey protein for after your run because your body will use the protein to slowly release energy throughout your body and replenish what you destroyed in your run. Best of luck! If you think that perhaps this may be of a concern for you feel free to e-mail me with any questions; Im happy to help because this has changed my life from being tired all morning and sleeping during classes, to be able to manage my work days.


Reguards.

Click to view RunYourCity.com's profile Rookie 6 posts since
Jun 19, 2008
10. Jun 21, 2008 6:20 AM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?

I realized that I wasn't very clear, when I said "hefty meal". I agree with Radar Runner. I find that I need at least one meal that isn't so lean in my diet. I'm not a nutritionist either, but I know that calories are not equal. The route that fats, proteins, and carbohydrates take are different in the body. I would say that your percent fat calories is too low. I think if you look at a good vegan runner's diet you'll find that you are getting even fewer fat calories than him/her (I'm not a vegan either). Add some nuts as a snack, an avocado to your wrap, and peanut butter like Radar Runner said - I like to make a peanut butter, banana, bagel sandwich in the morning. Well, let us know how it goes. Best of luck.

Ryan

Click to view Radar Runner's profile Amateur 11 posts since
Jun 20, 2008
12. Jun 21, 2008 4:40 PM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?
Im glad to see that this maybe something that you are looking to do and I think that it will definately help you; if you notice that the bit of peanut butter on that helps you throughout the day, perhaps inject some more of those types of food later in the day. It is all really a trial thing, if I were you though I would just try it; if its works perhaps change your diet to incorporate a bit more fat into it; REMEMBER, not all fat is bad and nuts are definately something that you should really look at. For instance, instead of Jiffy peanut butter, use natural skippy peanut butter which is better for you. These little changes will not make you gain weight and you will get more energy throughout the day as discussed before. Again if you have any other questions feel free to ask, your not alone I lost 60 lbs, and my diet changed so much that I became hypoglycemic as discussed before. I think this is something that you probably have and you will notice that there is a huge amount of increase in your energy throughout the day. Again if you notice it works, put some more in, if you are going to eat fruit or other things, make sure that you also have a fat with that type of food. For instance; peanut butter crackers with a banana, try to stay away from chocolate, do not have caffeine, the problem with these types of foods is that they give you a huge boost and then you crash causing you to be tired. MAKE SURE that you always have something to eat throughout the day and if you feel tired, eat it. Using this strategy instead of eating huge meals only three times a day makes it so your body always has energy and therefore you won't be as tired. This is what my nutrionist told me at least. Good Luck!

Reguards.
Click to view Radar Runner's profile Amateur 11 posts since
Jun 20, 2008
14. Jun 21, 2008 8:45 PM in response to: blasto333
Re: Why am I tired for the rest of the day after a morning run?
I honestly think that the best thing you can do is to see a nutritionist, im just a guy who had the same problem and can tell you that it is something that is very real. I figured this out the hardway, and if you are tired throughout the day you have to worry about a whole **** of alot more than just being tired. The worst thing about being tired is that you don't have too much control over when you get tired. I had this problem and I couldn't focus or anything, I feel your pain and I hope that this helps you out at least.

Reguards