Early Morning Runners - What do you eat before workouts?

A banana usually. That is enough to hold me over through the run until I can eat a high protein breakfast after the run.

If running 60 min or less, usually nothing. A couple of cups of coffee and out the door. It has helped with fat burning to run fasted. If I am doing a longer w/o or LR , I will eat a UCAN bar. I’m one of those low carb zealots.

Scubacane wrote:

If running 60 min or less, usually nothing. A couple of cups of coffee and out the door. It has helped with fat burning to run fasted. If I am doing a longer w/o or LR , I will eat a UCAN bar. I’m one of those low carb zealots.

For my easy days I don't eat anything either. Those are usually 60-70 minutes. I always seem to feel much better on my doubles, even after a hard workout in the morning. I'm wondering if this is a fueling thing or more of a "hey, you just woke up 30 minutes ago" thing.

I've never been able to tolerate running with anything in my stomach except just water and a bit of coffee. I run first thing in the morning, usually within 20 minutes of waking up, and I never eat anything before, even if I'm running for 2 hours or more. It doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me.

amkelley wrote:

I've never been able to tolerate running with anything in my stomach except just water and a bit of coffee. I run first thing in the morning, usually within 20 minutes of waking up, and I never eat anything before, even if I'm running for 2 hours or more. It doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me.

same here.

Maybe half or quarter of a banana, or in the summer, 6 oz of gatorade.

If I am doing a depletion long run, no problem.

If I am doing a long run with nutrition, I'll eat a gel right before I start, and then gels and gatorade at the normal intervals.

In other words, I don't need to eat anything (other than noted above) before workouts or long runs or easy runs.

Depends on what's available. A handful of corn flakes. Maybe some ice cream. Had a great workout once on a piece of Better than Sex cake.

A banana or bagel is too much for me.

Just water for me. Even doing 20 milers I will often go fasted.

Just water too.

After I run, I then eat my breakfast that consists of a granola bar and some 5% yogurt.

I figure I have enough in my system from the night before. I usually eat one Belvita cracker, just to get the system moving, and then head out.

I take a GU with caffeine about 10 mins before I head out the door. I carry a second one if I’m running for more than 60 mins. Works a lot better than completely fasted for me.

Night before , usually eat beef ? or pork ribs.

coffee with no cream or sugar. i'm already fueled on something devastatin'.

https://imgur.com/a/2EeykUM

Nothing. Usually wake 6:30 and out the door at 7:30.

For longer runs (16+) I’ll have a bar about 3 hours prior. Easy for me to scarf it down because at my 56 years of age I usually wake once or twice during the night to pee.

I just put a bar next to my bed for when I wake up.

weekday runs: two oreos + 100 mg caffeine tablet

Sunday LR: 100 mg caffeine + powerbar or clif bar

Booty hole fanatic wrote:

Nothing. Usually wake 6:30 and out the door at 7:30.

The title references early morning runners, not 2nd breakfast runners.

Yes I've had a change in career so this is interesting to me, instead of lunch time 10kms it's early morning now, you have eat something and just grimace at the indigestion. Early morning hurts the body though.

This topic is actually a fairly common thread on LRC.

I'm amazed anytime someone says they eat right before running.

In the morning I just get up, and do a scout-paced run. (I'm not 18 anymore Martha.)

If in the afternoon I make sure to have at least 4 hours after eating.

Even 4 hours is not enough if I ate a lot!

Coffee with sugar, banana, 2-3 dates.

Nothing. I'm usually out late getting hammered every night. It takes everything I can just to keep from puking during the whole run.