What do you eat before you run ?

[Geisha Girl]

What do you guys find gives you that little extra boost you need before you head out for a run. I am a commuter - Hamilton to Toronto - I usually get home around 7pm - I want to get out and do my run right away before it gets dark (and before my butt gets stuck to the couch) - and as such usually just go out the door - but yesterday I found myself sluggish - and wondered what I could have eaten in order to give a boost but without ruining dinner - I am currently running about 2.5 to 2.8 km in 20 mins. What do y'all suggest?

[b_squared]

What do you guys find gives you that little extra boost you need before you head out for a run. I am a commuter - Hamilton to Toronto - I usually get home around 7pm - I want to get out and do my run right away before it gets dark (and before my butt gets stuck to the couch) - and as such usually just go out the door - but yesterday I found myself sluggish - and wondered what I could have eaten in order to give a boost but without ruining dinner - I am currently running about 2.5 to 2.8 km in 20 mins. What do y'all suggest?

You definitely do not want to be hungry to start a run. How about having a snack during you commute home? At that time of day I like clif bars, fruit, milk but really anything that will take the edge off without filling you up might do the trick.

[Hammie]

What do you guys find gives you that little extra boost you need before you head out for a run. I am a commuter - Hamilton to Toronto - I usually get home around 7pm - I want to get out and do my run right away before it gets dark (and before my butt gets stuck to the couch) - and as such usually just go out the door - but yesterday I found myself sluggish - and wondered what I could have eaten in order to give a boost but without ruining dinner - I am currently running about 2.5 to 2.8 km in 20 mins. What do y'all suggest?

If I'm running when I get home from work, I try to eat a granola bar or some crackers & PB with an apple just before I leave work. That way it isn't still sitting in my stomach when I walk out the door to run, and I'm not so hungry when I finally have dinner that I overeat.

[ultraslacker]

a piece of toast with pb, and a glass of milk. perfect pre-run snack. :)

[Kelodie]

I often have a few crackers with peanut butter about 2-2.5 hours before my run. Sometimes, I'll have a piece of a nut loaf or a granola bar. The trick for me is to eat this snack long enough before my run so that I don't have any digestive issues.

[waynerdog]

a piece of toast with pb, and a glass of milk. perfect pre-run snack.

The toast with peanut butter - can't go wrong with that for sure. The milk, though, is a different issue. For some people it really works, and if it does then definitely go with it. But for others, pre-run milk can cause some pretty nasty GI issues, including cramping, bloating, gas, and....well, other issues.

Pre-run nutrition is very individual and very trial-and-error oriented. Basically you just have to look for something some carbs and a bit of protein.

[killerbeetle]

I eat just about anything and everything. Today I ate a moose and veggie wrap with pesto, gulped down a glass of water, waited about 5-10 min for it to settle and headed out the door to run 4km.

My favourites though that are practical for people with more sensitive tummies would be muffins, bananas, and peanut butter. PB on either a muffin or bread, or a PB, banana and marshmallow wrap.

[MINITEE]

No PB for this chicka! I tried it once years ago and ran with PB burps for 2 hours. NOT FUN! Although, when I do long rides this is a staple in my bento box: small whole wheat/multi grain tortilla with peanut butter, half a banana (sliced lengthwise) and slivered almonds. YUM!

For running, hummus & crackers, small wrap with a bit of tuna, hard cooked egg or an apple & small slice of cheddar are faves for me. But only if I'm going to be out for an hour or so.

[Hammie]

a PB, banana and marshmallow wrap.

Ooooohhhhhhh... that sounds good!

[killerbeetle]

a PB, banana and marshmallow wrap.

Ooooohhhhhhh... that sounds good!

haha yeah, the perks of having a toddler

[Geisha Girl]

Thanks runners. I tried Peanut Butter before my run on sat and it didn't agree but on monday had an english muffin an hour before and it was perfect. Trial and error I guess.

[FishPants]

I eat just about anything and everything. Today I ate a moose and veggie wrap with pesto, gulped down a glass of water, waited about 5-10 min for it to settle and headed out the door to run 4km.

I read this the funny way....like the veggie wrap with pesto was in addition to the moose

[killerbeetle]

I eat just about anything and everything. Today I ate a moose and veggie wrap with pesto, gulped down a glass of water, waited about 5-10 min for it to settle and headed out the door to run 4km.

I read this the funny way....like the veggie wrap with pesto was in addition to the moose

lol I think I'd have to run pretty far before I could eat a whole moose

[VeloCarrie]

We are all an experiment of one. What training programme someone recommends, might not work for you. What someone eats before a run, might not work for you. The key (and fun) is to experiment and find out what is optimal for you!

Lately, I've been having a large spoonful of Nutella.

[Geisha Girl]

Nutella is very popular on crepes with a dash of Grande Marnier in Paris - Yummy - not sure this is good running fuel though - however, I do volunteer to go to Paris to "experiment" hehe!!

[La]

A bowl of cereal is one of my pre-run staples. But as others have said, if you can eat during your commute home that would likely be better than eating as soon as you get home, then going for a run. If you don't have the option to eat on the way home, you could also take a gel pre-run. That's about 100 calories, which should be plenty for a 20-min run.