acastaneda says:

Hi guys,

I started running a few months ago, and while I still haven't got in the habit of running 2 or 3 times a week, I'm trying quite hard.

I'd like to run in the morning, before I do anything else, to try and force myself to be an early riser. You know, the first bird gets the worm. (On an unrelated note, it's the second mouse that gets the cheese!)

My problem is that if I get up, put my shoes on and start running, I find myself pretty weak, as I have not had breakfast yet. On the other hand, if I have breakfast, then I feel sick in the middle of the run. Either way, it's not happening.

I've tried eating a banana, or making a milkshake, or something light, but so far I haven't found the balance.

What do you guys do?

 Guppie says:

Since I'm not a morning person, I don't think I'll ever do regular runs in the morning, but then again, I once told myself I'm never going to run because it sucks and look at me now. LOL. I do however run Sunday morning with a group of friends at 10am and believe me, that's early enough for me and hubs. I usually eat some fruit or yogurt and 2 slices of whole wheat bread and a cup of java. Java is muchos importantes! LOL.

It seems to work for me, but then again, I need at least a few hours after waking up before I can really eat a hearty breakfast. Never been a breakfast eater, really.

Good luck with finding the balance. I do envy you for trying to at least run in the morning.

 tanned_va lter says:

What I'm going to tell you is not a joke: try to drink a glass of coca-cola 15 minutes before your running.
This method is used by some top runners too.
Infact, coca-cola increase rapidly your glycaemia giving you a momentaneous efficiency sensation; but since your stomach is empty youe body is forced to use another source of energy instead of sugars, and start to use fats. You can use even sport driks, but they are quite more expensive.
Fruit juice is not the same because its digestion is slower.

 bukkhead says:

I had the same problem-- no food = no energy; eat food = get sick.

Turns out I was running way too fast, not warming up at all. So now I give myself at least 30 minutes between rising and running, and I eat only a banana and maybe something with caffeine.

Not to gross you out, but, I know I'm ready when my body's had it's first "bathroom visit."

Then I run at a good training pace, versus going at top speed.

Oh, and I this should be obvious (but wasn't to me at first). 8 hours of sleeping will leave you a tad dehydrated, so make sure you get some water in you.

Everyone's different, of course, so keep experimenting!

--JE

 RunnerGirl77 says:

This is a matter of experimentation that every runner has to go through. It's not always limited to the morning hours, either. Sometimes, I find myself trying to "sandwich" in a run between work and dinner hours. If I eat first, I feel sluggish during my run. If I don't eat, I feel low on energy. I find that half of a banana with a tablespoon or two of peanut butter helps. Another thing that I might take in, in lieu of the banana, is a couple of Cliff Shock Blox. They give me enough of a sugar boost that I can run without feeling like the tank is empty.

 acastaneda says:

Ah, you guys are pretty awesome!

@Guppie: I'm pretty hyperactive as it is without coffee. You surely don't want to see me running around after a cup or two :|

@v a l t e r b: Coca Cola, huh? I can't say I've tried that, but I'll try it for sure! I kinda like the idea of a sports drink better. I sometimes buy the powdered stuff for really cheap, so that shouldn't be a problem.

@bukkhead: You're so right! So far my warm up routine consists of me rolling out of bed and maybe rubbing my hands if it's cold out. You bring up a good point about drinking water after waking up. I used to have a pitcher with water in my room to remind myself to drink it, but it looks like I got to a point where I even forgot to fill it up.

@RunnerGirl77: Banana and peanut butter sounds like a good idea. If things were up to me, I'd have a banana boat before a run: you split a banana in two, put marshmallows and pieces of reeses peanut butter cups in the middle, and then heat it up for a while. I think that might not be the best way to get back in shape though :(

 geiza_dobashi says:

I'm like you. I have to run first thing in the morning. I get up, wipe my eyes, use the loo (makes me feel lighter), jump in me gear, crack my knuckles and head straight out of the door. The only time i've ever enjoyed running any other time of the day is if i've been in a race. But i just always feel to sluggish.
My only advice to you if you'd rather run first thing, is to eat well the evening before, or just not eat anything that night. Though I seem to run better while feeling like crap, but one mans poisen is another mans nector. Really, it just comes to you with time, you'll figure out what is easier for you blah blah blah..
But then it depends on how far your going to run? If you know your going to be going far (over 10k), take a SMALL bottle of water, take a SMALL piece of something to eat. Anything under 5k. Just do it without anything. You body will use more energy burning up the food etc, than it will giving you the energy, which will just knacker you out..

 WileBEERCoyote says:

I agree with bukkhead. On the run I normally start slow "comfy pace" and after 20 or 30 min I gradually increase the speed according to what I want to achieve.

 beerRahn says:

I'm with the slow to rise people. Get up, and hang out for 15-20 minutes while the blood gets moving. Don't eat a full breakfast, but something to get a little bit of blood sugar. (A small bowl of oatmeal, a bagel, a handful of trailmix, or something like that.)
And yeah, have something to drink.

 kik0 says:

welcome to runners plus acastaneda I would have put myself firmly in the bad morning person crew.

But after a couple of weeks of getting up at 6am three times a week I find it easy now, makes me laugh now to think how I was at work till about 10 am people wouldn't even look at me

Anyways get up get a shower have a wee bit of lucozade sport (other sports drinks are available) not too much or I feel it repeating on me during the run.

Then grab some food when I get back

works for me good luck!

 Awesomeness says:

I have the same problem now and again. Like Geiza for short distance I just run on nothing but for long run my solution is to try to do is get up at 6 am, grab a bowl of cereal, and by 6:10am I am back in bed until 7am at which point I just run out the door. The extra hour of sleep doesn't do much but the hour give me some time to digest.

Most thing you will read on the net will advice 45 mins and no more than 2 hours between the time you eat and hit the road; honestly it's all about trial and errors, and knowing yourself as a number of peeps have pointed out.

 petergarner says:

I agree that this is a trial and error thing. Personally, I usually eat a little something before a morning run, and I definitely hydrate before I head out. And I recently avowed never to run more than 10k on an empty stomach after seriously crashing and burning on an early morning long run. But I also enjoy just getting up and running first thing: it's a great way to start the day, even if my performance is a little lower than for "fueled" runs.

 sub_pop says:

Great thread. I'm a new runner and I've tried out a few things. Most of my runs are in the evening, sometimes pretty late. I prefer to run on an empty stomach, but if I'm running with coal in the burner, I make sure it's been two hours and a batroom break since my last meal. I usually plan my meals and runs to allow for this. Since I see far more runners in the morning, I asked a trainer why, and he mentioned what valterb said. With no readily available sugars, your body burns fat.

 N70 says:

During summer my runs start at about 5.50AM, 4 times a week (12KM per run, 48km/week). What works for me is eat well the evening before, wake at 5.30AM, wash teeth etc, jump into running gear, drink some water (not much really) and get out the door.

I start by walking for about 5-8 minutes (I try to walk fast, as fast as by body allows so early in the morning), then I start running at a relatively low pace. Usually I can increase the pace after 1 KM and it gets better as kms go by. Basically I do a progressive workout, and I find that the preliminary walk is very important. Of course it is also a matter of getting used to it. The more you go out in the early morning, the more your body will adapt to the stress.

N.

 Jerry-D says:

i'm a lunchtime runner. up - drive to work - do the usual til around 12ish then gear on and out for 5km.

i have breakfast of granola or maybe a bit of buttered toast, and then at least 2 good mugs of coffee in the morning, one around 1130 i find still gives me the kick during the run.

 Tammy says:

The best thing I've found for energy before a run is pure maltodextrin powder mixed with a 16 oz bottle of water. I use this for my longer runs and I start drinking it about an hour before I run. I run a lot at 5am and before my shorter runs I don't eat anything. Everyone's different though, but I find that the food usually creates more problems (indigestion, stomach cramps, etc) than it benefits.

 tigertwo says:

I was listening to a back episode of the Dump Runner's Club podcast recently and Matt suggested that running in the morning wasn't ideal - the best time to run was between 3pm and 7pm? I don't know whether that is true or not (and it probably isn't practical for many of us) but I can relate to the morning sluggishness so perhaps there is something in it?

I have tried to change my habit to run first thing as I now have a long commute to work, but I am not really a morning person and with no-one to give me a kick or run with first thing, it is really difficult. I might try the coca-cola idea though! It sounds intriguing!