[graeme]

I'm trying to run on a night when I get home from work, but I'm not sure what to do with regards eating before running.

Should I have a snack then wait a while before running or should I just do the running then have something to eat later?

 

[Dave]

I always leave at least 3 hours beetween eating and running.

In the winter that usually means running before eating.

If its been a hot day in the summer I will sometimes eat when I get home from work and run later when the temperuture has dropped.

 

[ed_m]

depends what works for you..... you should be ok doing short runs when you get home from work (unless you're diabetic or similar).... if they get longer you might want to think about a snack mid afternoon just to keep your energy levels topped up.

 

[twinkle toes]

I find a banana about an hour before I run works great :d

 

[calton1954]

I used to go for a run as soon as I got home, eating afterwards and felt fine. Now do my mid-week runs first thing, before breakfast, and that feels OK too. Just find out what works for you.

 

[graeme]

Cool ,thanks for that, I'll try with a mid-afternoon snack and if that doesn't work I'll try something about an hour or so before I start and see which works best.

 

[Grant]

Weeknights, I usually have a small dinner before going to the club - if I didn't, I wouldn't have the energy to run.

If its a weekend run/race, I'll eat breakfast about an hour before running.

 

[Granty]

I always use to have a meal about 1 hour before I ran, I have changed this recently to running before a meal and I have found this to be better.

 

[Steve]

It is a case of seeing what works for you....I can't eat a thing for at least 4 hours before running whereas others I know eat just before going out.

 

[Runningfox]

It is a case of seeing what works for you.....

Exactly. My club mate always devours jam butties immediately prior to a race. He reckons he can't run on empty and jam butties are the best thing for putting fuel in his tank!
Generally after eating I like a couple of hours to pass before I run - or before I race - but I've been known to take fuel on board 'during' longish training runs or in a race like 'The Three Peaks'. So circumstances come into the equation too.
Cheers!

 

[Steady Edwina]

All depends on what you eat - a meal will need around 2 - 3 hours but a pre-run snack of some fruit, museli bar maybe an hour