August 30, 2010

Running on Empty

I recently started Couch 2 10K. It's great. It takes a very long time. I really want to do my workout in the morning because I see huge results on the scale (hint, hint :) when I do. Here's the problem, er...problems.

Problem #1 is that I can't eat first or my side will hurt. BAD. But with no food since dinner the day before (around 4pm), I run out of energy. Actually I don't have any to begin with.

Problem #2 is I can't drink water because then I need to pee every 5 seconds. But if I don't drink water I get dehydrated and have to call my hubby to come pick me up before I can finish my workout because I'm afraid I will pass out.

So, hit me with you best shot. Any advice from all the morning runners out there? The ones with small bladders and side stitches...

By the way, please don't take these for excuses. I will continue to pee in bushes and run with what seems like 50 pound weights on my feet if I have to. I am relentless, remember?

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21 comments:

Tricia said...

Making sure youre hydrated at all times and especially the day/night before a workout will mean you dont have to drink a lot the morning of a workout. We've been doing our long runs (10-12 miles) at 5:30am. I make sure to drink water if I wake up at night but only have a small amount right before I workout.

And I eat 1/2 a Bagel Thin before I work out. Enough to give me energy, but not enough food to upset my stomache.

Molly said...

Loved your post yesterday! Thanks! I love that I'm not alone on this journey!
I run in the mornings and I get a quick drink - not big - I understand the bladder thing. I run before eating too. No energy may be just a mental thing you have to push through. Have you tried running with a piece of gum? I used to but haven't for a while. I wish I had the golden answer. You are doing great!

Lisa said...

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Shoot me an email if you want to try some... I am not a distributor or anything, but would be happy to mail you a few bars and/or shake so that you can try them.

lisat0618@gmail.com

Lisa said...

http://www.viewpoints.com/Melaleuca-Access-Performance-Bars-review-5d4c3

one more link if you're interested

Married with Children..... said...

Hey Keelie! I love running in the morning but I don't eat before I run...but I do eat about 450-500calories an hour after I run. As for water, I don't drink water while I run very often cos it hurts me too! I am really good about drinking the amounts of water that I SHOULD and to be honest, I probably drink more than I HAVE on a daily basis. So when I run, I don't get too thirsty. However, if I am running a run that's longer than 6miles or if it really hot, I will take my water and keep it on the side of the road, an intersection I might pass back by more than once. And I only sip it then. After my runs, I immediately drink at least a couple of full glasses of water!
HTE

Raegun said...

I sometimes run in the morning. I find it helps to eat just a little something before heading out. If I stick to a small yogurt cup or half a banana it doesn't bother me. I agree with Tricia when it comes to the water - be sure to drink it throughout the day and into the evening. That way you'll be hydrated.

dolphyngyrl said...

I definitely agree with getting your hydration in the day & night prior to the run. Being well hydrated all the time will help you get through a run without having to hydrate (as much) during.

As for the eating thing, I'd always heard that you should get about 100 calories of quick burning fuel in before a workout or run. I use the Gatorate G1 packs, fruit juice or chocolate almond milk. You could just as easily have a half banana or slice of toast with nut butter, or a piece of fruit. Try to eat it about half an hour before you run.

Good luck! I hope you find your "magic combo"!

Jen said...

Hey Keelie, I have the same issue with the eating and side stitches but found that I had a hard time getting through my early morning runs. I now try to eat an apple about 1/2 hour before and that seemed to help. A simple suggestion but... hey, worked for me!

Unknown said...

I find that if I sip water throughout the day and not chug it before a run or right after one, my body agrees with me. The side stitches could also be from not breathing right. I had them BAD when I first started running, but since then, I have figured out HOW to breathe while I run, and no more stitches.

Hope this helps :)

Oh, I eat a banana before a run. More energy than an apple if you ask me. :)

Stacey said...

Peeing in the bushes...that is dedication and a sure sign of relentlessness! :)

If I run in the morning I feel the same way you've described. The little bit of water and eating a little something tends to help. I think once the temperature and humidity decreases around here that will help too!

Ali said...

Hi Keelie,
I'm not a runner, but I do bike and one thing that is being recommended there is to drink chocolate milk (instead of the gatorade types of drinks). I too, would lose steam if I didn't have something prior to hitting the trail, but couldn't stand to eat much before going. So, I drink a glass of chocolate milk a little bit before heading out. It helps give you all the nutrients (and one other thing that escapes my mind--glycolic acid for your muscles, I think??) you need.

99ToGo said...

I don't get stitches from eating, I burp. Not an plain manly burp, but a burp that comes with little bits of the food I shouldn't have eaten before my run. (Sorry about the nastiness of that bit of info.)

So, like you, I avoid eating before I workout, but I literally hop out of bed and get to it. If you have a half hour or so, perhaps that half a banana would work.

Are you staying REALLY well hydrated all throughout the rest of your day? If so, I imagine you could safely do a run at or under 6 miles without drinking...

Anonymous said...

Don't "bounce" when u run. I don't know how u run but I catch my sel exerting all energy through Bouncing.

Sam said...

I buy those little bottles of water, the ones that basically fit in the palm of my hand and thats it. Then I poke a hole in the top (I got this from Ana at Vegan Ana). Then it just shoots a very small stream of water so that I can wet my mouth, but I don't drink so much that it causes the peeing problem, or the side ach problem. :)

Anonymous said...

Is there some iron-clad rule or reason why you are not eating after 4pm?

It seems to me that if you can't eat before a run, then perhaps eating at a later time the day before would help. It would lessen the time w/out food.

I don't think going more than 12 hours without food is a good thing, regardless--running or not. It must throw your glucose leves way off and I'd think it confuses your body into thinking it's being starved. Not good for the metabolism, that's for sure.

You could probably do an internet search on length of time between meals...

Deb

Holly said...

I, too, am in agreement with most. I eat a piece of toast before my morning workout to give me just enough energy to get my workout done. I also drink enough water throughout my day so I still feel hydrated in the morning.

Great job being resilient!

Megan said...

Hi! New follower here :) Love it! Keep it up! You are an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

I'm now on Week 5 of the program and I had similar troubles to you the first couple of weeks. I got the pain in my side the first few times I ran, but it slowly went away. It actually seemed to more about my breathing than my eating. When I focused on taking deep breaths while running it went away. I also eat a tiny bit before I run in the morning (about half an apple with some peanut butter) and then I eat my full breakfast immediately after.

As for the peeing, I just try and take small sips as often as I can. I also drink powerade while I run to give me extra energy.

Hope this helps!!

Patrick said...

I don't have advice here I suppose. Tough call between drinking or not, but, you gotta drink the water.

Hi, I Tagged you today, enjoy...
http://responsibility199.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-136-tagged-i-am.html

Scarlett said...

Side stitches could be due to having a full stomach and the bouncing from running causes pulling against your diaphragm. Having a small, energy filled meal before you run could help. Toast with peanut butter and honey?

You need to keep yourself hydrated. You could take a water bottle WITH you, so you can hydrate yourself along the way rather than before. Perhaps a belt that carries those little bottles on it?

Good luck! I hope you find a suitable solution!

Chris@Joyful Mother said...

I won't be running a 10k anytime soon so I don't exactly know how to train for it. Anyway...I have been jogging 2 miles a day almost every day.

I don't drink water at all before my run in the AM. Actually...I'm really bad about drinking water. I know I need to. I think I drank a half of a glass yesterday. Hmmm...maybe I'm a camel and I never knew it?? :) No..really...I don't drink much. I notice that by the end of the day...I'm more thirsty though. I know...I know...I need to drink more!! I do have my cups of coffee after my run.

As for eating...I don't eat anything until way after my run. I guess this is due to the fact that I've been eating later dinners which...I know....I also not a good thing. Boy...what is wrong with me!!??

I have a story to share with you about going to the bathroom while jogging... years ago when I was obsessed with my "looks" and losing lots of weight. I was already fit and thought I was fat. So go figure right?? I would take laxatives you know to eliminate food.. (yep..had some eating disorder issues) and this particular morning I...well....you know...with out going into to many details....you can guess what happened...right in my pants in the middle of my jog. I know gross! I had to call my sister to pick me up. Boy...did I stink!! I realized I had issues and my mom sent to see a shrink. Seriously. But..Thank the Lord for His Salvation a few years after this incident..I'm not bound anymore by image!!