energy drinks for running early in the morning

fret_wimp2

I usually go running after work, so i have had lunch, plenty of liquid over the course of the day and so i am prepared for the run.

recently i tried running in the morning before work, and a 5k course that usually takes me about 30 mins took me over 40. i got cramps where i usually get none, i was out of breadth much quicker and just overall out of energy much quicker.

Im guessing a lot of the fatigue was due to having no food in me.
If im going running at 7am i dont have time to be up 90+ mins before hand to have had some food and have it digested.

Ive never used energy drinks as i didnt see the point, but wondering if a few mouthfulls of energy drink 10-15 mins before i leave the house in the morning will help me have a better running experience?

ecoli

fret_wimp2 wrote: »

I usually go running after work, so i have had lunch, plenty of liquid over the course of the day and so i am prepared for the run.

recently i tried running in the morning before work, and a 5k course that usually takes me about 30 mins took me over 40. i got cramps where i usually get none, i was out of breadth much quicker and just overall out of energy much quicker.

Im guessing a lot of the fatigue was due to having no food in me.
If im going running at 7am i dont have time to be up 90+ mins before hand to have had some food and have it digested.

Ive never used energy drinks as i didnt see the point, but wondering if a few mouthfulls of energy drink 10-15 mins before i leave the house in the morning will help me have a better running experience?

I know alot of people who take this approach just to keep the blood glucose levels from dropping too long after the fast from the sleep of night before. Either an energy drink or gel will give your body quickly absorbable carbs to get you through your sessions.
You may still be a small bit slower in the morning just because you are not a morning person. I know i always run my morning runs slower than my evening runs without the effort changing just because my life style my body wakes up more as the day goes on

accensi0n

Dynamic stretching and a small strong black coffee works for me.

JJayoo

Why are you running?
Are you training for an event?
Trying to lose weight?
Trying to get fitter?
Or do you just enjoy having a run?

fret_wimp2

I started running to lose weight and gain some level of fitness a year or two ago.

I lost my excess weight, and im in decent shape, having started with being able to run less thna 200metres without falling over, i now, on a good day can run for 15+km before getting very tired.

I keep it up as i like being a bit fit, i feel better, my clothes fit nicely, my metabolism is up and I want all that stuff to stay.

corkcomp

if you've had a decent meal the night before its unlikely your blood sugar would be that low.. I run 10k's before work often enough and ive found dehydration to be the main problem, i make sure to drink at least 500 ml of water 15 minutes beforehand now.. a banana might help too if your blood sugar really is low

Parsley

you can often be dehydrated early in the morning. i find having a pint of water before bed means i'm better hydrated in the morning. dunno how scientific this is but it worked for me when i'd to be up at 6am to go row 16-odd km up and down a river.

Ruu_Old

I run 6 miles every second day, maybe a bit more at around 6:30am after my morning workout. A cup of tea and two pieces of oat bran toast keeps me going. Anything else too heavy and I would bring everything up.