Run-Down Forums

[Dan]

From Runner's World Online:

Train your stomach

If you run first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, you'll be able to go longer and harder if you train your stomach to digest while you run, says Nancy Clark, R.D., author of the Sports Nutrition Guidebook. In one study, cyclists ate a 400-calorie breakfast before exercising to exhaustion. On a different day they simply ate a big dinner the night before, but no breakfast. When they exercised after eating, they were able to ride for almost half hour longer. Train your stomach to handle food by first only having liquids like orange juice or sports drink. Then move on to light foods like part of a bagel or some dry cereal.


Any thoughts on this? What if you can't drink juice or gatorade within two hours of running without severely cramping up?

Dan

[Guest]

I am a 15 year old XC and Track runner from Ontario. My coach is always telling us to eat about 2-3 hours before you race or train. Sometimes there are some slight exceptions to this depending on when you train (when you're in high school) and when lunch period is. But in general this helps me and I very rarely get cramps.

[Anonymously Posted by: 'Kelly']

[Dan]

Hi Kelly,

I think it depends entirely on the person. In high school, I often had a problem with my lunch period being 2-3 hours before practice, and stomach troubles became part of my daily routine. It wasn't till college -- when I could eat on my own schedule -- that the problems subsided.

Looking back at the quote from Runner's World, it appears the study was on cyclists and the conclusion was regarding runners! If that's the case, I've got to call b.s. on the whole study. Running and cycling are completely different on the digestive system. I can go for a hard ride literally minutes after a large meal, while I have to wait 4+ hours to do the same with running.

Dan

[Guest]

Dan, is there something abnormal when a peson has to go and take a #2 like three times before he races? I mean my last track meet I had to go to the defecation unit 3 times. Maybe it was nerves or a big dinner... whats up?

[Anonymously Posted by: 'Dan Dobra']

[Dan]

Not all that abnormal, just annoying... Probably a combination of nerves and diet.

Dan