You know you're a runner that likes to eat - you'll probably enjoy reading this article about eating!

What to Eat Before a Run

What to Eat Before a Run

by Kathleen Lisson

Get a few long distance runners chatting and soon one of them will mention his/her favorite part of the sport - the Eating. Eating before a run is one of the most enjoyable things about running - sneaking one of the kid’s bananas or spooning dollops of peanut butter systematically on everything on the menu makes us feel like a Runner with a capital R even when we’re not in neon-bright ridiculously overpriced running shoes. Runners rely on a few tried and true ingredients and switch up the menu depending on the speed and distance to be covered during the workout.

Here are a few examples:

Breakfast before a jog around the block - the Elvis. Casual days mean portable breakfasts. Enjoy a peanut butter and banana sandwich just the way the King of Rock and Roll liked it before you tune your ipod to the Elvis Presley mix and get “all shook up.”

Sunday morning jog - before I drive up to Carlsbad, CA to run 5-10 miles along the ocean, I fix a full breakfast. Scrambled eggs, toast and oatmeal with peanut butter. Since I will be running aerobically the whole distance, I can handle “real” food as long as it has at least an hour to digest. Scrambled egg burps optional.

Morning of a 5K race - Plain oatmeal as soon as I wake up and then ‘racing hot chocolate’ - protein powder with warm soymilk. Early mornings can be chilly in race day gear, and heating the soymilk turns an ordinary protein shake into a hot drink. Running a 5K race will be 16-30 minutes of hot pursuit and heavy breathing, so make sure even an ‘iron’ stomach is done digesting before the race starts.

Half marathon breakfasts follow one ironclad rule - no new food on race day. Whatever worked before your last long run, that’s what you eat. NOT some newfangled bar or powder you picked up at the race expo. I choose a bowl of oatmeal with protein powder thrown in it and dry toast. I am nervous, so the ‘comfort food’ carbs are easy to keep down.

In every case, focus on eating and enjoying your breakfast, don’t wolf it down in a few quick bites. Envision a relaxing, effortless workout as you slowly chew (or sip) and savor your meal and feel the effect that mindful eating has on your digestion and your morning run. Then put on those obnoxious neon running shoes and have some fun!

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