To break the fast, or not?

Maria has been studying nutrition for the past three years and she is going to make a fabulous nutritionist and dietician when she completes her studies shortly. Why? Well, of course, she knows her stuff, but it’s not just because of this. It’s also because she is a big pain the arse.

Let me explain. Maria understands that we need fuel. Some people need it more than others. Men need more fuel, generally speaking, than women. Those with physically demanding jobs might need more fuel than sedentary souls. And if you run, well, you need fuel for that, too. To train, you need fuel. You can’t go on a road trip without filling the tank. Humans are the same.

The problem is that I have always been rubbish at this: eating to run, thinking about good training foods. It’s not that I’m one of these skin-and-bones food hating

Are you enjoying that, Laura? It’s FOOD!

exercise freaks. No Sir, I love food. And I love running. Just combining them is difficult for me; making them work together. The first day of Cruce de los Andes (our 3-day, 106km trek/run from Chile to Argentina), was eight hours of climbing up a volcano, trekking in snow around it and running the steep slopes back down again. We had prepared peanut butter rolls to see us through, as well as energy bars and fruits. I know I had a banana on the way up, probably because Maria said it was time we ate something (we were about to start climbing through snow). At the top I was done after a bite of the peanut butter sandwich. “Eat it,” Maria said. “Just finish it. You need something.” Slowly, so slowly I chewed. And don’t even get me started on those gels and energy bars and balancing calories… I’ve been running in the mornings back in London and I always have the same food dilemma. I’m not someone who wakes up ravenous. While Martin has already gobbled tea and toast, I’m just boiling the kettle, waking my insides up. I’ll always have breakfast “in a bit”. So, I don’t eat before I head out running. However, what this means is that I’ll feel I’m running on empty for the last part of my run. I know this. And I have tried eating before I go. The reverse happens. I feel sluggish and slow at the start, and I hate that as well.

So, I am open to suggestions and nagging. What light snack or breakfast works for you in the morning before a run? What options do I have? I am ready to try them. You’ve got a carte blanche to be as big a pain in the arse as you want. I’m listening. Finally.

Morning vs Evening

For the majority of my life, I’ve considered myself a night person.  In college, I was convinced that I couldn’t write a paper unless it was dark outside.  This probably had more to do with my need to procrastinate rather than attack the assignment at hand, but it’s still a valid example.  With the years, this has changed.  If I want to be mentally productive, I have to wake up early as after work there is a minimal chance of focusing on the task at hand.

I normally do just that.  I wake up early to study, go to work and use the evenings to get my run in before dinner.  But this past week I tried something new.  School has slowed down and is coming to an end so my early morning study sessions are no longer necessary.  Fall has arrived along with cold and dark evenings.  By the time I make it home, the sun is already down and it’s nearing the 50s.  And while this may not be cold to most people, I’m from Texas.

So last week I opted for morning runs.  I woke up, bundled myself and got my mileage in before work.  Granted it was hard to peel myself out of bed knowing that the minute I pulled back the sheets I was leaving the warmth.  But I sucked it up and made it out even though it was raining one day.  The fact that the sun was rising made it feel warmer than it actually was.  As I looped around the rose gardens, the rays reflected off the lake and set the tone for the rest of the day.

I went into working feeling as if I’d already accomplished so much.  And the best part was when I was on my way home from work and didn’t have the desire to run it was okay.  I’d already put in my time for the day.  The evening was mine to do what I wanted o with it.

So now the question is…how long can I keep this up?