Time to make the toast–and then get out on a run.
We mother runners love our carbs and coffee, as evidenced by this outtake of Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line – and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity
. Sadly, we had to discard it down the disposal when the original tome was the size of a dozen eggs plus a loaf of bread and a grande latte. But we didn’t grind it up, thankfully, so you can read it here today without any eggshells in it.
Take It From A Mother: What’s your favorite pre-run snack/meal?
“I have a Bolthouse Farms Perfectly Protein Mocha Cappuccino as soon as I wake up (to get things moving) and a Snicker’s Marathon Bar in the car on the way to a race.”
—Amber (likes to race once a month)
“A bowl of oatmeal with flax seed, Craisins, and maple syrup, and a banana, if I’m not too full.”
—Caryn (typical headwear for a run: a high ponytail and a “very crusty, salty, ‘Life is Good’ visor”)
“Greek yogurt, granola, eight ounces of water, coffee, banana, and GU.”
—Christy (drinks chocolate milk, iced coffee, banana, and peanut butter smoothie after a hard run, unless her husband greets her with a falafel)
Little. Orange. Different. And better than any drug.
“My ritual breakfast is Diet Pepsi, a banana, and half of a bagel.”
—Julie (nickname: “Bloody Sock” due to torn up toes and propensity to blister)
“Toast with peanut butter and banana with honey on it.”
—Tryna (schedules a few annual weeks of rest)
“Dave’s Killer Bread, toasted with almond butter and jam, and coffee.”
—Vanessa (drinks water with Airborne during runs. “Maybe it helps, maybe it’s just refreshing.”)
“A Clif Bar, or if it’s a long run, I’ll eat a whole-wheat waffle with Greek yogurt and almond butter on top about an hour before the run.”
—Lesley (started running while in the Peace Corps. “My friend convinced me I needed to ‘earn my shower.’”)
“Two scrambled eggs, a slice of toast with PB and lots of H2O or sports drink if it’s going to be a humid day.”
—Amanda (hangs her race numbers in her bathroom closet so she sees them every morning)
“Coffee to get things moving, and banana or bagel with peanut butter.”
—Corrie (runs so she feels less guilty about eating Oreos, which she, “will eat anyway.”)
“Nothing. I get sick if I eat before a run.”
—Andrea (pre-race ritual: kissing her husband)
Taking it to you mothers: what’s your favorite pre-run snack or meal? (Extra points heading into a long weekend if you add a random fact about your running.)
I have become addicted to eating a banana and drinking 16oz of water as soon as I wake up (the morning of a run) and then my pre-run meal is always Unsweetened Apple Sauce with Protein powder stirred in (recommended from the Paleo for Athletes book). It is so easy on my stomach and I can eat it 20min before a run and have no problems!
What kind of protein powder do you use? I could see how this would work really well, but I’ve never used protein powder at all.
I eat raisins and an Earnest bar (http://earnesteats.com/our-foods/bars.php)–the chocolate peanut flavor–before all my runs. When I have to run at a different time of day or am doing a longer distance, I have steelcut oats with peanut butter and flax seed, but I’m still experimenting with good food for the days when the granola bar isn’t enough.
Whole grain toast with natural peanut butter for long runs. Short runs are a banana or nothing.
Half a cup of coffee and a special K protein bar. I started seriously running in the last couple of years when I realized 40 was quickly approaching. Now I’m over 40 and have never felt better and more confident. 40 is the new 20!
I don’t eat the same thing before runs every time. It all depends on when I run.
Random fact: I switch when I run based on seasons. Summer = morning. Winter = afternoon or evenings.
Banana and walnut/cashew butter before a long run or nothing at all with a little snack about 4 miles in. (RF – I habitually wave to or pat inanimate landmarks on my regular running routes. They are like old friends.)
Peanut Butter Toast/Bagel. Or a Snickers Energy Bar. I was laughing at Terri cause on long runs I give High fives to bushes, trees, etc. lol
Peanut butter and raisin sandwiches. I started eating the during high school cross country and still am twenty years later.
Plain old PB&J. Easy and portable if driving to where my long run will start.
trailmix or granola…random fact is I always wear 2 running bras when I run lol
Pre-run (before a long run on the weekend…I don’t eat anything before my weekday 4:30 a.m. runs), I eat a half of a sandwich thin toasted, spread with peanut butter and thinly sliced bananas. So yummy because it all melts together!
Random fact: I put on my left sock and shoe first, then my right sock and shoe or I feel weird.
A donut with bacon on it. Just kidding.
Always a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread. I have this for breakfast every morning whether I”m running/racing or not.
I like a Honey Stinger waffler with peanut butter before long runs. Mmmmm… Before my shorter, early morning runs I don’t usually eat. I’ll eat a peanut butter and banana half bagel when I get home.
Random fact: I wear a Fuelbelt, even on short runs when I don’t really need the fluids. I feel naked without it.
Weekday runs usually nothing except a glass of water or decaf tea. Weekend runs it’s usually oatmeal, toast and tea. Won’t run for at least an hour after eating that much.
Random fact: I have to put something in my ear canal (ear buds or cotton) for temps under 45. If I don’t I get severe earaches.
Fruit snacks. I started doing it in high school/college before cross-country races (I would eat them at the starting line!) Really though I’m not too particular, something easy on the stomach.
Random fact-I have never run with music.
Nothing or a banana or a small whole wheat tortilla with honey or whole wheat toast with honey. But usually nothing.
Random fact – I am 50, have been running for 3 years and have lowered my 5K time from 41:38 to 27:54 (last weekend).
Way to go!!
I always eat a whole grain waffle with sunflower seed butter. I have become addicted to the taste! And a cup of coffee of course!
Random Fact: I cant run in the middle of the path- I am preemptively courtious and always stay to the side- even when noone else is around.
Nothing if it’s a casual run. Peanut butter bagel if it’s a race, with a huge glass of water. I have nightmares of dehydration.
Random fact: If I’m going to listen to music when running, it has to be the same playlist in the same order. No skipping around, no starting in the middle. I HAVE to know what song is coming next or I very anxious.
I think one of those quotes is mine – unless there is another Amanda out there that hangs there race bibs in their bathroom closet!
Random Fact: I am convinced that new shoes help you run faster.
Gotta have some strong coffee and a cheese omelet, yeah protein.
Random Fact: I’m addicted to my GPS Runkeeper app…I have to know my pace every half mile
I eat a granola bar or toast with a glass of OJ a least an hour before the run. And my random fact is that I am starting to enjoy the treadmill this winter. Shocking but true. :)
My 4 and 6 year olds must be going through growth spurts because they eat EVERYTHING in site, I’m lucky if there is a granola bar or some bagel scraps left for breakfast. They even eat my Kashi cereal! Lately though I have been making bread at night in my bread machine and I will have a couple slices with butter and honey in the morning with coffee, always LOTS of coffee.
Random fact: I am super proud to be a runner for Oiselle Running, it will be a year this spring since I joined the team :)
I eat a one-piece of bread peanut butter sandwich before EVERY run. Leaving the house at 6 am? I’m eating my sandwich during my drive to my run, doesn’t matter the time!
fav pre-run meal – PB and banana sandwhich with a cup of Lipton tea (with honey) and 16 oz of water (and like K I’ll eat it in the car on the way to a race)
random fact – running has become one of my “new identities” as a breast cancer survivor; every time across a finish line I feel like I’ve kicked cancer’s ass
before a race I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich about 2 hours before the start. on a regular morning, I don’t worry so much about eating, unless I’m going really long, and then I eat a banana or a honey stinger waffle.
For runs over two hours: small piece of whole wheat toast, half a banana, glass of water. Otherwise: nothing. I much prefer the feeling of running on an empty stomach.
Pre-run meal is usually Kashi cereal with either dried cranberries or a banana. And coffee. Oh, and a diet Coke. Love that caffeine!
Random fact: I’ve been known to daydream so hard while running, that I’ve wound up lost a few times.
Hey, I’m in the blog! I’m in it! Ooooo, nothing like geeking out two days before a half marathon. Major geeking.
Okay….this sounds weird but Plum Organics makes a babyfood puree pouch (any of the fruit ones) that is the perfect pre run for me. Helps that my two year old will share them with mommy as mommy’s vroom snack. He thinks it makes mommy run faster.
Awesome idea!! We have so many of those around.
A smoothie of half an orange, half a banana and two raw eggs one hour before take off.
Oatmeal with chopped apple ( or pureed pumpkin), cinnamon, agave and coconut milk–usually 1-1.5 hours before my long run. An energy/Focus drink (Spark) –works like coffee to get things moving.
Random Fact: I wear a bracelet with the words FOCUS stamped on it. I look at it or physically rub it when I need to do exactly what it says.
Most of my runs are done in the afternoon, so it varies. Lunch is always leftovers, so it usually has a good mix of carbs and protein. I have to eat about 2 hours before running because any closer to run time and it hurts me. Run fact: bright colored clothes mean I run faster (never mind the Garmin, just take my word for it).
I don’t eat anything before I run or I feel sick. If it’s a long run I do carry some Chompz and use those during the run.
Run Fact: I can’t wear my ring that I was always wear on my right hand while I run. I either have to leave it at home or in my car before I run.
Banana always a banana..(I NEVER untie my running shoes, if I do accidentally, I am convinced I will never get them tied perfect again)
1/2 of a clif bar and a few swigs of water
Run Fact: I hate a down and back course … I much prefer a loop …
I so agree on the loop preference and if I am running a down and back course I try to just enjoy the scenery on one side of the road so I don’t have to see it again coming back . I like new things to look at. :)
I’ve always eaten a half bowl of dry Honey Nut Cheerios and a glass of milk.
Run Fact: I started running at the age of 50 and ran my first 1/2 marathon in 2:05. I’m hoping to do a sub 2 at Sunday’s half.
You go, girl!
Coffee always but I have to stop an hour before the run otherwise I will have to pee! A banana, with almond butter and coconut all warmed up together in the sauce pan. Warm is key because I run in New Hampshire!
I usually eat 1/2 a whole wheat bread round w/pb; sliced apple; and 1/2 cup of coffee. Usually eat the rest of the apple on the way to the race. I just started running about a year ago,I’m training for my 3rd 1/2marathon and looking to try a 10 miler this year w/my BRF’s
random fact: when I drive anywhere in my hometown and I see mileage signs I think I can run that :)
If I’m running before work, a banana, a few sips of coffee, and at least a pint of water before heading out. On weekends, I’ll have my breakfast, then run about two hours later. I usually eat a mini Clif bar before the weekend run, and have lunch when I get back.
Loving these suggestions! I usually run short runs on an empty stomach. An hour or so before a long run I’ll eat a bowl of oatmeal with nuts and seeds mixed in. Tomorrow I’m running my first 10 miler and have to leave the house unreasonably early for me. I’m not sure how I’ll deal with fuel. Loving the idea of packing food to eat in the car!
random fact about me: I’ve spent more on my running clothes/shoes/accessories than the rest of my wardrobe combined.
I love Snackwells bars… peanut butter. Yum! If it’s going to be a longer run then I’ll shove a banana down for good measure. Chase it with water with lemon.
Jamie ~ Trying to be good and limit my running because of a tenacious bout of tendonitis… it’s hard.
2-3 pieces of bread heel toast with peanut butter and sunflower seeds, a glass of water, a 5-hour energy shot, and 3 cliff blocks.
Running in New England in the winter, I keep tissues stuffed in my gloves in case my nose starts to run too. I can’t sniff and spit, it grosses me out.