Pre-jog snack

testing_times

Hi guys,
Quick one for ya, I have recentley started road running in the evening, nothing mental just a couple of laps around the block to get me started. I have found that half way round I start to feel weak with the hunger so was wondering what I could have before the job to help.

At the moment I havea decent lunch at 13:00 - the usual, meat, veg and some salad. (cutting back on the spuds etc)
Around 3-4 I will try and have some fruit.

By the time I get home it's about 7. If I planned to go for a jog at about 8 what would be a good easy snack to have before heading out something that would give me energy and not make me feel all heavy and give me a stitch or something.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.
Cheers.

rccaulfield

testing_times wrote: »

Hi guys,
Quick one for ya, I have recentley started road running in the evening, nothing mental just a couple of laps around the block to get me started. I have found that half way round I start to feel weak with the hunger so was wondering what I could have before the job to help.

At the moment I havea decent lunch at 13:00 - the usual, meat, veg and some salad. (cutting back on the spuds etc)
Around 3-4 I will try and have some fruit.

By the time I get home it's about 7. If I planned to go for a jog at about 8 what would be a good easy snack to have before heading out something that would give me energy and not make me feel all heavy and give me a stitch or something.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.
Cheers.

why are you running whats the goal like?

testing_times

Morning,
I am trying to generally get fitter, as the gym is wedges some of the evenings I wanted to substitute it for a couple of laps around the block.

I guess my question is more to do with a pre-work out snack for a run or the gym, as I would work just as hard at both and dont want to try either with a big bowl of spuds sitting in the gut.

Cheers

--amadeus--

There is no physiological reason for being "weak with hunger" half way round a shortish run.

Your body burns glycogen for fuel when running, with glycogen being metabolised from carbs. The average person will hold enough glycogen in thier body to run for a couple of hours, or around 15 - 18 miles. With the right training this can be greatly enhanced - in the 70s marathon runners used to complete the full 26.2 miles without refuelling in any way.

So I think some of this may be mental - you are aware you haven't eaten and running requires less mental effort than lifting so your mind dwells on "hmmm, I'm hungry". So it's an issue in your mind before you set out the next time. One of teh great running guru's is a guy called Noakes. His theory is that there is a "central governor" in your brain that dictates how hard or long you can train. Simply put it's main job is to get you to slow down or stop (glycogen preservation) and so these negative thoughts are really common and if you ignore them they will go away. Put it like this I know people who've done 20 milers first thing in the morning before breakfast and un-fuelled. They are experienced and trained marathon runners but everyones body is capable of a lot more than they think!

Now if you do need fuelling I would suggest a carb bar 90 mins or so before your run. It'll put something in your belly and give your mind reassurance. It'll also be light enough not to give you a stitch and will be metabolised by the time you hit the road.

And feel free to pop into the Running forum for advice

BossArky

How far is the run "around the block"? Are we talking NYC style 800m blocks or middle of nowhere countryside & windy backroad 10km blocks?

If your run is under 5km then I'd say an apple or banana with a glass of water 15-20 minutes before the run should keep you from keeling over.

I'm not a runner though. Check out the Athletics / Marathon / Running & Freesbies forum (or whatever it has been renamed :pac: ) if you want more runner centric advice.