Why should runners eat carbs before training?
471452
Complex carbohydrates produce fuel (energy) needed for participating in endurance activities such as running.  Simple sugars are also carbohydrates but results in fuel that is consumed much faster than complex carbohydrates. \n\nBest wishes !
251432
Glutamine is a natural agent in your body. It is used for energy. I have never paid much attention to vitamins or supplemants. If you want to produce more glutamine try carbs like pasta, potatoes, rice and certain vegitables. I am a tri athelte and I just make sure that night before a race I have what is called a pasta party. I don't win but I definately do well.\n\nRemember this is what I do all athletes are different and use different techniques. Do research and adobt your own routine.
333439
Eat foods high in carbohydrates before the game.  When I played baseball in high school, we'd have pasta before home games and take a box of saltine crackers on the bus to away games.  Also drink plenty of energy drinks (gatorade, powerade, etc) and water.
431051
Body energy, necessary for breath, motion, heartbeat, thinking, and all that, comes from food. Chiefly from two components of food, in fact. Carbohydrates are made of carbon and hydrogen (sugars, starches, etc), and fats (oils) which are more complex shemically (butter, olive oil, etc).\n\nTo produce the energy cells need in the form they need it, to do their function, these are burned (in a clever and flameless way) indside the cell. The end products of complete oxidation are carbon dioxide and water. The oxygen necessary comes from air, through the lungs. \n\nThe more energy your muscles need (because of exercise) the more fuel is burned and the more carbon dioxide and water is produced. The carbon dioxide is exhaled (through the lungs) and the water is excreted by the kidneys. Both are carried by the blood from the muscles to the lungs or kidneys as needed. \n\nSo the more your exercise, the faster you breath and the more oxygen you take in and the more carbon dioxide you exhale. If you run for one hour, you'll produce a certain amount of carbon dioxide and if you run for 2 hours you'll produce just about twice as much. but, even if you're sleeping, you'll still produce carbon dioxide for many parts of your body still have to do some work even if you're not running around. Your heart still beats, your brain still works (dreams, maybe) and you still stay about the same temperature. All that takes energy, just not so much as you need when you're running. \n\nAnother source of carbon dioxide, a much bigger source than humans running around on a soccer field, or a baseball diamond, is burning fossil fuels. Gasoline, diesel fuel, coal, heating oil, ... all produce carbon dioxide and water (and heat) as exhaust products. All that carbon dioxide being put into the air is one of the causes, most people think the major cause, of the rise in average temperature on the Earth. This is the global warming that's been in the news.
311230
Runners World magazine has had several articles over the years on the benefits of caffeine.  Basically, the article has said the caffeine (but not too much of it) can increase mental and physical performance.  They do, however, recommend that if you drink soda before you run that you leave the can or bottle open for a while to get ride of the carbonation.
276338
Melaleuca makes a product called the Access bar. If you eat one it causes you to burn fat instead of carbs during your exercise session. Gives you more energy during exercise.\n\nB-vitamins before you exercise are also good for endurance. Energy drinks like Monster and XS will give you a quick pick me up. Wouldn't make a habit of those though.\n\nAlso, look up a product called Adaptogen on Bob Marshall's website www.healthline.cc .
286494
you should eat BEFORE you work out...\n\nhow important this is depends on how intense your workout is.  it's either important, or REALLY important.\n\nduring a workout, your body is using an energy source called glycogen to do it's work.  glycogen is the sugar stored inside your cells and in your bloodstream.\n\none reason to eat before the workout is you can have a better workout (burning more calories, and providing a bigger bump to your background metabolism), because you have more glycogen in your bloodstream, and as your cells burn the glycogen stored in the cells, they can get more from the bloodstream, so they don't run out of energy.  if your body (cells and blood) run out of glycogen, and all of a sudden your whole body feels like a lead balloon, that's called a "bonk".  that's why gatorade and powerade are sold, it's just glycogen to keep your muscles going, and electrolytes to help transfer the glycogen across through the stomach blood vessels and to the cells instead of waiting until the small intestine, which would take much longer.  gatorade would be most appropriate for something like a basketball game, soccer game, hard bike ride, etc.\n\ncontrary to popular belief, weight loss does not really occur directly from the calories burned during a workout.  the calories burned during a workout are almost 100% glycogen, unless you're talking about a workout that lasts for days.  the way it works is exercise increases your total metabolism, it's a slow process, BUT OVER TIME YOUR BODY CONVERTS FAT TO ENERGY TO MAKE UP FOR THAT CALORIE IMBALANCE CAUSED BY YOUR NEW HIGHER METABOLISM.\n\nanother reason you should eat before your workout (related to the first reason) is that if your cells run out of glycogen and can't get any more from the bloodstream, but work has been done, so energy is needed... the cells will actually "eat themselves", they will use protein WITHIN the muscle as an energy source.  a scenario where this would especially be true - if you didn't eat before your workout, and then did an intense hour and a half weightlifting, then you didn't eat for several hours after your workout... your body would burn through all of it's glycogen in the cells and in your bloodstream, then your body would still need energy to maintain normal "life", and the conversion of fat to energy is not nearly fast enough to help out... the end result being your muscles would "eat themselves" to keep the cell from dying.  so if you don't eat right (and at the right time) working out could cause you to lose muscle and gain fat, not gain muscle and lose fat.\n\nand strangely enough, before and after a workout, CARBS (in moderation) are good.  carbs are the only energy source your muscles can convert into energy they can use fast enough to make a difference.  BUT keep the carb intake low at all other times.\n\nthe thing to remember is that you are NOT burning off the fat AS you work out, you will burn it off in the few days AFTER your workout from the corresponding bump in metabolism.  if you think about what this means (the implications), you will see it totally changes your approach to the original question.  it becomes a "bigger picture" thing when you know the whole story.\n\ni actually eat BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER a workout. (an hour before, and within 20 minutes after).  this gets glycogen into the bloodstream for a more intense workout, and then maintains the glycogen level after the workout so my muscles don't self destruct.  and more active muscle means a higher metabolism, which is a good thing.
434062
i dont know how it is on carbs, i dont keep track of that kinda stuff, but a cyclist eats a high grains diet (bread, rice, spagettii, anything noodles basicly). Whether a serious cyclist is training for endurance (century rides) or racing, they all keep a high fiber diet. hope this helps
604766
I would hope that if you are going to attempt a half marathon you have done some longer runs in your workouts. If so, whatever you ate before you workouts would be safe to eat before your race (assuming that it didn't give you problems in the workout).  \n\n10:15 seems pretty late to be starting a half-marathon at this time of year.  I don't know where you are going to be running, but I would be sure to be well hydrated before the race. \n\nAvoid alcohol the day before the race, it will dehydrate you.\n\nThe morning of the race I would stick with something digestable that has sugar in it -- toast with honey, bananas, orange juice.  Again, it depends on what you know your stomach can handle.\n\nThe day of before a race and the day of the race are not good times to experiment with your digestive system.
323623
What has always been recommended to me was a meal low in fats and oils and high in complex carbohydrates, with plenty of water or Gatorade.  The reasoning was that they would provide energy faster than protein, which would usually be consumed in higher quantities during building phases.  Hydration is another very important thing, avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sodas.
411964
it's not a good idea to exercise on empty stomach.i would advise that you take a light meal 3-4 hours before a track meet.drinking carbonated drinks before you exercise will only give you a feeling of energy as the sugar it in will fuel you.a light sandwich is ok tho' but try to avoid heavy meals just before you run as it might make you nauseated.
457411
I know it's been said... but...\n\nRun faster\nSwim faster and \nCycle faster\n\nOne last thing you could try is train harder and longer.\n\nLess junk food, more vitamins and protien, and stack up on carbs a week before\n\nBut there ain't no way if you ain't got it in ya!
585756
Run whenever you want, but the question was when to run to lose the most weight... before your first meal.  You haven't taken in any carbohydrates so your body is forced to burn the fat for energy.  After your run/exercise eat and your boosted metabolism will continue to burn calories if you managed to get a true aerobic workout.
61138
Immediately before a long run, it's probably not a good idea to eat much of anything. If for no other reason than a full stomach interferes with the breathing action of your diaphragm.\n\nIf you want to know what to eat for you last meal before a long run, carbohydrates are a good bet.\n\nA good rule to go by is "anything that agrees with you when you do shorter runs. Experience will teach you what works and what doesn't.\n\nRight now, I prefer fruit juice and bananas before a long run. They have orange juice and potassium and are easy to digest. I have a friend who is known to have gone out on long run carrying a slice of cinnamon toast in each hand. Whatever works.\n\n\nNote: There are people who are gluten intolerant who get craps and diaharea if they run after having foods containing it. There are people who are lactose in tolerant who have have the same problems with dairy products.
568397
Be sure to eat plenty of good carbs the entire week prior to the race.  Also the last 3 days prior to the race eat plenty of bananas and mayonnaise, if you can stand it, this will help to increase your potassium which will decrease your amount of cramps.  The night before the race hydrate with plenty of water.  DO NOT DRINK SPORTS DRINKS!  This will increase the amount of sugar in your body which can then lead to you feeling parched later.  I would stick with water.  The day of the race don't drink a lot before the race, just drink during the race.  If this is your first marathon you will be really nervous anyway, and do not need to pump your kidneys up anymore.  Good Luck with this.  I hope you succeed to your expectations and beyond.
189589
If you are preparing for a hard race, you are probably doing a hard workout on either Saturday or Sunday morning. Whatever you are eating the night before, that agrees with you during the workout, is what you should eat the night before the race.\n\nIf you want to experiment with loading up on pasta, pancakes, baked potatoes, or whatever, that's the time to try it.\n\nNever, I repeat, never do anything different for a race that you haven't tried in a workout first. That includes new food, new sports drink, new shoes, socks, T-Shirt, etc.\nKeep the surprises to a minimum.\nNothing different than what you
990788
You should eat a high protein food or beverage 45-60 minutes before weight training. After weight training you should eat a balanced meal of protein, carbs and healthy fats to fuel muscle repair. If you are hungry during training you are not eating enough to keep your blood sugar high enough to train properly. Avoid protein bars if you can, because they are not much different than a candy bar.