A runner’s dream
I meant to run yesterday but I woke up with a dreadful headache which disabled me all day. Then I dreamt last night that I was running with an old friend, and woke myself up with the thought that I should be running instead of dreaming about it! Was clearly on my mind.
So I eventually got up and out of the bed and out the door. I had coffee and water but no food as I didn’t feel hungry and wasn’t planning on going too far. I paid for that, I think, in that the run felt much harder than it should have.
When I saw the splits from my Garmin, I realised I had run much faster than I planned. What the numbers don’t show is that I had to stop several times to catch my breath. I was a bit dehydrated and over-heated. The good news was my back felt ok. But I did it, that’s the main thing.
I am doing a half marathon in London on 24 March and I pretty much stuck to the plan for this week. Not being too hard on myself, just need to get back to a running routine.
Hard to know whether to eat before a training run or not. I usually don’t (including the two 10kms and the 18km just before Christmas and today’s 12km). There are some suggestions that running without eating helps the body burn more fat (but I’m sure there are just as many theories that it’s a really bad idea). If I’m running early I’m too lazy to get up in time to eat and digest.
Yes they all sound good in theory and I am trying to eat less carbs to lose weight. But I definitely think running feels easier when I eat beforehand. When I was training for the marathon I would always have toast and a banana before a long run. I think it’s to do with perceived effort for me.
The burning fat idea (i.e., not eating before a run and forcing the body to do so) does work but by god you have to work at it. And that means regualr running, and plenty of distance. Probably worth it, but for the average bod, light snacks before a run, and the odd gel during do the trick.
Yes I agree – it’s way too hard for me, especially as I get older I think. Need some carbs for running – just don’t need as much of them as I have been eating!!
😉
Jumping into the ‘to eat or not eat’ debate. I have to eat something. Just something light. Although I’m not going very far yet.