when to eat before running

[oasis]

how long does one wait to run/train after eating a medium size meal, have read 3-4 hours, think I read on here awhile ago about digestion can use up energy so should wait to digestion process is finished, any thoughts?

[limestonemiler]

It's specific to you and your schedule. Anywhere from 2-5 hours is is the norm, but I've been fine doing an easy run an hour after a meal.

EDIT: Also depends on what you're eating. Meat and dairy are harder on your stomach I've found than grain or veggies.

[tree]

Depends on your digestion system.

I normally run 45-90 minutes after I eat, because if I wait for 2-3 hours I'll be stopping for a bathroom break before the run is over.

As long as you're not cramping up you're waiting long enough. Most of the energy you're going to be using in a run comes from the meals you ingest far before the actualy run.

[MattMc]

Depends on the person, how long you have been running (years) and how much mileage you do.

Early on when I only ran once a day I couldn"t eat for 3+ hours prior to running.

Later, during after running twice daily regularly I could eat pretty much any time. It go to the point where I could literally head out the door for my hard long run right after finishing off my cereal and coffee.

[oasis]

definitely depends on the person, my question was if one goes running as the digestive process is still happening can this affect how your run/workout goes

another thing I read or was told, should wait after you eat a meal until you just getting a little hunger then should be ready to go, guessing that would depend on the size of you meal and of the course the person

[oasis]

Energy & Digestion

Everyone wants more energy. Digestion is the most energy consuming function of the body. It takes more energy than running, swimming or bike riding.

We must have sufficient amounts of energy available if we are to eliminate the toxins from the body. Lack of energy is the contributing factor of people dying at age 50 and overweight.

The body no longer has the energy to deal with its situation. Food that is forced to stay in the stomach not being digested is body expends a tremendous account of energy forcing it out of the stomach into the intestine where it has to travel some 30 feet. Can you imagine the energy needed to force all that rotting food out of-the body?

Food now take up to 8 hours to get out of the stomach and up to 20 to 40 hours to get through the intestines. And people wonder why they are tired after a meal

This is why the broad spectrum of nutrients found in Prime Directive have been predigested through our special process. It transforms the nutrients into a form just like the body does to make the nutrients instantly available for the body to use.


- this is kind of what I was getting at

[wetcoast]

The consensus is: depends on the person. I second that.

Over the last couple plus years I have been running my long runs of up to 3:00:00 and even a tad longer on a cup of tea. No food, no gels, nothing. During the week for a 90 minute hilly run a bunch of guys come over and family dinner hasn't settled from 1.5 to 2 hours before and I hate the feeling.

I believe what happens is your stomach demands oxygenated blood for digestion, while your legs do to. Someone correct me if I am wrong. So breathing is high, and of course there is the requisite gaseous things going on.

Now for long runs, you have a glycogen sparing effect going on....if you don't eat and don't do gels etc. I have run with guys that literally remind me of children needing breast feeding, they are so dependent on GUs and gels, while I run along with them on a completely empty stomach (save for the tea).

If you are ever over a few pounds you can drop some weight by doing the long runs on empty stomach...

food for thought.

[spaff]

That's the great thing about running ultras is that you get to eat WHILE you're running.

250-300cal/hour.

[longhurdler]

I agree that it depends on the person.

I am perfectly fine running 30-45 minutes after eating a medium size meal, however, others have to wait up to 3 hours.

As long as you do not cramp up or have any pains, you should be fine.

[runner869]

For me the harder I run the longer I have to wait after eating to run (or I tend to cramp up)

Easy run: 30-60 mins

Hard session: 2 hours

Race: 3-4 hours

[limestonemiler]

Dec 6, 2009 16:51:41 GMT -5 spaff said:

That's the great thing about running ultras is that you get to eat WHILE you're running.

250-300cal/hour.

mmmm gels.

[ctrotter21]

runner869 put it pretty close to my answer.

[spaff]

Dec 6, 2009 19:57:29 GMT -5 limestonemiler said:

Dec 6, 2009 16:51:41 GMT -5 spaff said:

That's the great thing about running ultras is that you get to eat WHILE you're running.

250-300cal/hour.

mmmm gels.

Yup, get pretty sick of sucking back 2-3 gels per hour in a 100miler.

Some will eat real (solid) food, but I can't stomach it. There are some races that have a regular buffet during the later stages.

[B-rads]

3-4 hours sounds about right if it is before a race other than that it doesn't matter for me its only because of nerves I have to eat that early

[Smithwicks]

When you're hungry.

Captain obvious for the win.

[eeen]

Here's the 'strategy' of my friend Kelly Wiebe, who was 4th at XC nationals in the Senior race:

He gets home from school very hungry, eats a huge plate of spaghetti and meat sauce, throws on his running clothes, and goes running. 20 mins or less into run: Ahh, cramp!! Next day, process is repeated. It definitely hasn't stopped him from being fast! Granted, he is probably an exception.

[firstorlast]

Photosynthesis.

[spottiswoodcanrun]

I tend to cramp up after I eat . If i am gouge to run a race around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, I eat scrambled eggs around7:00 an I'm fine but I don't eat anything in between that or I get cramps really bad cramps. I agree everyone is different . Experiment a little then you'll figure it out