Breakfast before a run

[junecahill]

Hi
fellow suffers , i am having some mid life crisis and training for the great north run half marathon, i have crohns and colitis and take pentas .
I am running out of energy very early on in my runs which i think is due to not eating enough, i am scared to eat before i run because i know i will get diarrhea which is my main complaint , any advice please on what i could try.
I have recently gone onto gluten free bread and lactose free milk which does seem to have calmed things down some what , i also have started taking fish oils which seem to make me loose anyone else had that problem

 

[prettykitty]

Hi June,

I usually have a bowl of cereal with almond milk about 1.5-2 hrs before a long run (up to 14 mi), and a banana about 30 min before the run. During the run, I use clif shot bloks (they're like gummy bears) to refuel -- I eat one every 2 miles. And at mile 9, I have 1/4 of a protein bar. I also wear a hydration belt so I have plenty of water! I have found that this combination works well for me, although it may not work for everyone. I also run along a course that has lots of public restrooms!

Good luck in your training!

 

[junecahill]

Hi
Thanks for your reply i will try the gummy bears as for the protein bar i am scared to have one because i thought they was full of fiber and me and fiber don't get along.

Unfortunately the course i run has no toilets so i have to be very careful i do have the banana because that seems to bind me , i went for a run on monday had one slice of gluten free bread with some honey on 4 miles late i was finished , not good, gonna try again tomorrow dare not even have a cuppa in case i wanna wee lol

mant thanks

june

 

[amrycrohns]

I am in the military so I have always ran or done physical training before I eat. I also do numerous runs 2 halfs this year so far. I load carbs usually for 4-5 days before the big run, for just training runs I usually load the day before. prettykitty pretty much hit what I will use during long run or backpacking trip, gummy bears and little energy blocks i can carry in small hip pouch. There are some popular electrolyte powders you could try and see if that is enough to get you through a long run, off the top of my head Emergen C makes one. A guy at work that is die hard Paleo guy makes his own energy blocks, I will ask him where he got recipe and link it tomorrow.

THe good news is atleast in the US the big runs have plenty of place's to go to the bathroom or atleast porta-johns.

 

[junecahill]

HI amrycrons

I am afraid my appetite is pretty poor scared to eat much of anything in case it gives me the trots, i get aching legs after only a mile i am wanting to run the great north run in September for IBD research don't know if i setting myself too big a challenge, i am not unfit though i do the gym 4 times a week treadmill and weights.
Off to docs now cant stop peeing and they some blood so whats happening there i don't know i have been told it could be kidneys due to my run on Tuesday it was so hot and maybe not drunk enough, i do wear a hydration belt to have sips every so often . So any advice would be great

many thanks
june

 

[AlliRuns]

Breakfast of choice for me is oatmeal with PB mixed in and a banana. Usually sits well. I use clif shots as well, but only for runs over 25km, then I try to take in 3 per hour.

 

[amrycrohns]

The reason I think doctors would believe it's your kidneys is if they thought you way overtrained. Search this condition and read about it, it can cause kidney damage Rhabdomyolysis. This is usually seen with very strenous workouts though.

Make you primary and GI doctor aware of getting soreness after just 1 mile, if you are exercising regularly this shouldn't be happening. Other then that try to find a carb source you feel safe with maybe well cooked sweet potatoes. During the runs try different powdered drinks if you are hesitent about food consumption.

 

[AlexJ]

Maybe you could try something like caffeine? I know it's not ideal but powdered caffeine is very cheap to buy and would certainly give you an energy boost for your run until you return and can eat some solid food.

Or you could try a spoonful of psyllium husk along with your breakfast, psyllium works wonders for slowing down my movements so it may also have a good effect on you too. (although too much psyllium gives me a bloat so work up to an amount you feel comfortable with)

 

[hawkeye]

Pre run breakfast is usually toast with peanut butter and orange juice