Pre Breakfast Run

Comic Book Guy

Hi All,

Have taken a notion the last month or so of doing my running first thing in the morning before breakfast to fit around family and work. A few mornings i have woken up pretty hungry and found the going tough. I would not have eaten anything since my dinner the nite previous around 6.45 pm.
Furthest i have gone so far in this regime is about 9 miles but am wondering can i push it much further and what are other peoples experiences of running on a very very empty stomach.
Thanks all!

nellocono

If your training for a marathon or endurance event then it might be a good idea as it will train your body to run on 'empty' which it will have to do anyway towards the end of a marathon etc which is generally the point at which people hit the wall when your glycogen stores are depleted...

Not something I do myself though. It is also a decent way to lose weight if that is your goal as your body will turn to fat reserves eventually if your running and out of glycogen/energy...

TFBubendorfer

I'm doing virtually all of my running before breakfast, including long runs, and I regularly do 20+ miles.

I have gotten hunger pangs on a couple of occasions but that was never a sign of impending collapse, they just go away. I must be used to it by now because I can't even remember the last time that happened.

Running out of glycogen reserves is not an issue just because you did not eat breakfast. It's the previous night's dinner that sustains you.

Just do it. It's not a big deal.

JohnnyCrash

I do my Sunday morning lsr's(10-14 miles) before brekkie. I just make sure i'm well hydrated from the night before

tvc15

Great, this thread directly addresses another of my concerns, now i don't have to get up that much longer before running to digest my breakfast!

Comic Book Guy

Thanks for the replies all. Hope this evenings prawn stir fry will keep me going for 12 odd miles in the morning!!
Never thought of this type regime simulating the end part of a marathon. Hoping to do my first late on in the year so will find this educational!!

Out of interest what type of brekkie to ye have after such distances? Love the porridge myself

DustyBin

Has to be porridge all the way, throw in something to pimp it out a bit, I go for raisins, sultanas, banana, sunflower seed & pumpkin seed all mixed up together, lovely.
If it's a particulary long or tough run sometimes I take a second (different) brekkie between that and lunch, if not then just a rake of fruit

opus

I wake up early the odd morning during the week so sometimes head out for a 5/6m recovery run before going to work, have tried it before & after eating & to be honest it didn't really make much difference.

As I'm not really a morning person I prefer to avoid any more demanding runs at that time.