Running 11 miles?..............?

Question

I had a disappointing run this morning i had to walk the last 2 and 1/2 miles back home.

It was morning so i had an empty stomach and took one bottle of water with me. Just wondering people who run long distances do you take a backpack or plan your stops so there is food around or would you eat before hand for 11 miles?

Answer 1

Different bodies need different things.  I ALWAYS eat before I run - depending on how far I'm going, depends on what i eat.  Normally I'll have 2 weetabix or a bowl of porridge before a 10+mile run, plus fluid.  I hate carrying anything with me, so if it's hot I'll plank a bottle of water somewhere so I can pick it up en route.

Try to get into the habit of eating carbs on a regular basis about 1 or 2 days before a decent run.  That'll store energy for you to burn off on the day.

People who sweat a lot during a long'ish run, need more fluids than those who don't, so you need to work out what suits you.  I can run up to 10/11 miles with no fluids (unless it's baking hot) but anything longer than that I need to get fluid on board to stop de-hydration.

Sounds like you just ran out of energy on your last run.  Do worry, it happens to most people at some stage - think back to your pre run prep and work out what was missing:  food, fluid ... what?

Answer 2

Carbohydrates are needed especially for long distances is like you are trying to attempt

have porrdige, chopped banana and honey for breakfast! :)

Drink plenty of water!!!!!!!

Answer 3

I always ran in the morning, always after porridge and honey...give it an hour, then off, would run approximately 14miles, never required fluid...(maybe I`m just lucky)

Answer 4

definitely eat before you go out running, porridge or cereal, your body needs some energy to run!

Answer 5

Whenever I go on long runs, i just run. 11 miles is not very long, so you should be able to make it through without needing water or food, but if you were running close to 20 miles or more, i would say you may need something to drink along the way. Next time drink alot of water the night before and then try it again. You should be better off.  

Answer 6

Eat about 2 hours before you go out and run. You don't want to be running on nothing but you also don't want to be running after you eat.

Answer 7

There isn't a right or wrong answer to this, some people do some things and some do other things - and it works for them.

1 bottle of water might be OK for 11 miles, in a 10k I won't drink en-route unless there is a water stop and I want a break.. but for further than that I would take a drink or make sure I had one just before I set off. Ive run with a pack and a bottle and the pack was OK and so is the bottle - its personal choice really (I got specific pack that just has the water pouch inside and nothing else for that)

In a longer run I tend to stuff my pockets with snacks for the route, something easily digestible (Jelly Babies!), though for some I've eaten before I have gone out. In 11 miles you don't need to take extra energy with you but if you are taking a water bottle than you can fill it with an energy or sports drink.

I've also known runners who take some money with them and when they need a drink they stop at a shop and buy one (I believe that if you organise it in advance some shops will let you pre pay for drinks to collect as you run!)

So a few options there. I've carried water with me,and not carried it, used a bottle and a pack, carried snacks with me and not carried them and it does depend on the distance how much preparation I do (longer runs and Ill be more likely to consider taking things, training runs and I don't normally bother)

Answer 8

1/2 hour before I run I eat a banana and drink lots of water.