10 miles all smiles this morning…keepin’ it sassy. It definitely felt good to get another double digit run in before work this week! I attribute all of my motivation lately to my runtastic running group. They make these miles fly by like they’re nothing. Well that and I’m just one of those annoying ‘morning people’. Thank you, coffee.
So for those of you that are getting up early on the weekends to clock some major mileage (myself included) I know it’s good to have a few breakfast options on hand before a long run. For these quick bites it’s good to get up a tad early before your run to let your food digest a bit before you get started. I know from experience that there’s nothing worse than food sitting on your stomach feeling heavy during a 15-20 mile run! Anyway, here are some good options to get your energy stores full and ready to go.
–Oatmeal with fruit/honey. Oats are always a nice option because they keep you nice and satisfied. Just make sure not to overdo it with the fiber. Honey is a nice added sweetness to this one. And perhaps a little fruit for good measure.
–Toast with a small spread of peanut or almond butter. A little bit of PB goes a long way. I like the organic peanut butter from Sprouts or the Justin brand that comes in those tiny fun packets.
–Honey stinger waffles. These are perfection if you don’t feel like getting up and prepping something to eat. I like to keep a stash of these handy basically at all times. They are also organic and have gluten free options if that appeals to you. I love the gingersnap and maple flavors.
–Banana. You totally cannot go wrong with the good ole standby treat. Bananas are so easy to digest and really they were the only thing I wanted when I ran my 50 miler back in May. No clue why…I think I had a few bananas that day though actually. HA.
What are some things you like to eat before a long run?
Sometimes I will forgo food before a long run…provided that I had a good solid meal the night before. But in general I do like to have something on my tummy to keep my energy stores high.
Great fuel. For early morning workouts I grab a banana on the way out the door. Heavy fruit, but not a big heavy meal.
Yeah I never have time for anything more than the items listed! I get up so early but yeah it’s nice to have proper fuel for intense workouts!
Ooh, I wonder if those waffle things are available over this side of the pond…!
Maybe! You should be able to purchase online as well!!
I love a bagel and cream cheese an hour before a super long run, otherwise i am starving by mile 5
haha…nothing wrong with that! Sounds good, I could go for a bagel right now!
My go-to breakfast before a long run is a toasted bagel with peanut butter! Nice and filling, I’m not always hungry enough to eat the whole thing but at least half will last me. Sometimes I’ll do a slice of toast with pb and banana slices.
Sounds good girl! Thanks for your input!
Honey stinger has been my go to all summer. Except once. Then it was half bagel, almond butter and honey. Mmm
Almond butter + honey = good combo!
Food before a long run? What is this you speak of? Yeah, I am horrible at that. Even marathon training couldn’t fix it. 🙂
Fueling will be one of the best things you can do for yourself especially if you’re interested in improving your times. Which I know you are 😉 So…DO IT!
Current go-to breakfast before a long run is a gluten free waffle topped with PB and banana; with a cup of coffee. Hasn’t let me down yet.
That sounds fantastic! I need to get on board with waffles with pb/banana!
I usually dont eat anything either before a run but AFTER… I pretty much consume all of the calories I just burned in Waffles!!!! 🙂
Hilarious! I don’t eat if I’m running less than 10 miles or so..especially during the work week. But on Saturdays during marathon training I will have a quick bite. It’s a totally different animal when you’re a distance runner training for a full marathon.
i use pretty much the same fuel. my favorite right now is a toasted english muffin with almond butter and a banana. great pre-run fuel. if im running behind though its a honey stinger waffle its my go to!
Mmm yes I forgot about english muffins! Those get the job done too!!!
I like to have a little something to eat before a run too – even just crackers with peanut butter
PB is definitely a popular answer! haha…it’s the best!