Last few weeks I've found my usual mid-week runs just not happening because of getting held up at work or social things. I'm thinking of switching to running before going to work. Question is this - I do a Sunday morning run, but because my time's my own I have breakfast (just cereal and tea) then wait a while before running. Without the luxury of all that time before going to work I think I would need to run after getting up, then have breakfast afterwards. Anybody else run on an empty stomach in the morning - how do you feel ?

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Don

Yep I only do 30 mins tho so not such a big issue.

Thanks, Steady Edwina, my mid-weeks are usually around 40, so think I'll give it a go this week.

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Don

I have only ever run a few times in the morning, more of a late bird, but I have to say I felt better and ran quicker than when I run in the evening. Only ever went out for about 45 / 50 mins.

I had a banana before I went, felt starving when I got back but apart from that no ill effects through running on a near empty stomach. I guess each person will be different, best go for a shortish test to see how you feel.

Yeah, Granty I'm going to experiment. Work has been bonkers - get caught up in things once there and it can be hard to get away, but i figure if I do my run in the morning and go in a little later it's a "fait accompli".

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Don

I like running first thing, especially in the summer, but energy levels are low. If I'm thirsty I guzzle a load of water then have to stop after 20 mins of running, not always practical. Banana or cereal is good, but i don't always have time to wait for it to go down. I can't run too far early, but some people don't seem to have a problem.

I'd imagine that if you're working late and eating late at night then you should have enough energy in the morning for a 40 or 50 min run.

I train 3 mornings a week from 6.30am on an empty stomach, and find it ok, but like Bagpuss energy levels for me are a bit low to start but by the end i'm ok and looking forward to my breakfast. Everyone is different, do a short session and see how you feel thats the best bet.

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NELLIE

I was having problems running in the morning until i realised i wasnt eating enough the night before. Plenty of pasta and an energy dink in the morning is good for me.

Running first thing is good from the point of view that it's done and dusted for the day and then eating all day is not a problem!
Running later in the day is good in that one has to be more careful about food all day and therefore one eats less, well I do, until the run is done.

I do a mixture of both....variation is the spice of life.

Being retired I've no real need to run in the early morning now, but when I did I'd just have a quick cup of tea and one or two biscuits before setting out. That way I could easily manage up to fifty minutes of quality running without buckling at the knees. Having said that, I never ran on DARK winter mornings, only when it was light enough to see properly.

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Give me the hills!

but if you can't 'see' the hills, surely they're less painful...........

While running the hills I'm fairly well attuned to everything that's going on around me, sights, sounds, scents, etc.. but I'm not all that keen on the 'taste' when I fall flat on my face!!!!

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Give me the hills!

teeth are just extra weight to carry anyway.
of course, falling on your face in cornwall, with all its livestock and their waste, could make that tasting session a whole new experiance. ahhh, smell of the country.

Makes for a nice deep cleansing mud bath!