10 replies to this topic

[monocotyledon]

I'm a shift worker so find it hard to fit in runs sometimes, so this morning I finished a 10 hr night shift at 0730, had a bowl of bircher and was asleep at 0830. Woke up after 7 hrs fairly solid sleep, had a coffee and glass of h20 and set of for a 14km run.
STRUGGLED. Big time. Had to really talk myself into not quitting as I plodded along. Didnt feel like I had any stamina, motivation or rhythm. It wasn't until about 45mins into it and after one particulary steep hill that I finally started to get into it. Finished much slower than I would have liked.

I know everyone has 'off' runs occasionally. Do you think todays lackluster run could be due to not having anything to eat after my sleep? I also had a few peices of fruit overnight but nothing else. Not sure whether to try and eat something small an hour or so beforehand first next time.

[clanrunner]

Eating before running is quite individual, an each to their own thing. I never eat within an hour (usually not within 3 hours) before a run though. I love to run in the morning, generally wake up and go. What is important though is what I eat before I sleep. I make sure I don't go to bed hungry at all, but on at least a reasonably full stomach. But that's me. I reckon it's worth your while trying a few different things, see what works for you.

[Jaxta]

Given that you've been sleeping, your glycogen stores won't have been depleted, although if you go to sleep with them depleted, then you won't have fuel to run on.

I'm an early morning runner like clanrunner. A good dinner the night before and I don't need anything before I run (unless I'm doing 20km or more and I'll get a muesli bar into me an hour before the run).

As you rightly point out, maybe it was just a bad run! They can happen for no reason whatsoever. The fact that you started to feel better through your run does seem to indicate that it was just a bad run, rather than a nutritional intake thing.

Being able to eat before a run is a valuable skill though! Perhaps give it a whirl if ever you wake up feeling a little flat and see if it helps you.

[speedmeup]

.... no decent meal following a 10 hour working day, and then no breakfast equivalent after sleep? . . yep not rocket science, your going to have a lethargic run. Either eat something more significant prior to going to sleep, or have a decent meal when you wake up and leave a couple hours prior to your run.

[MG4R]

Food probably would be a solution to your problem, even if it is something very light before a long run. It could have come down to dehydration also. How much water did you drink during your shift? Before your sleep? I see you said a glass of water before the run, but that means for 7hrs you only had 1 glass, possibly 17 if you did not drink much during your shift.

The small things add up. Respect though for pursuing running with shift work, I tried it for a few months and could not handle it at all.

[speedmeup]

MG4R, on 23 April 2012 - 06:56 PM, said:

Respect though for pursuing running with shift work, I tried it for a few months and could not handle it at all.

yep agreed. .  tried similar last year and failed dismally . . much respect for those that can do it. Keep up the good effort Monocot.

[monocotyledon]

Thanks for your advice guys. After a day off (yes!) I'm going to have a decent sleep and then try and have something small early in the morn then set off for a 16km an hour or two later. Fingers crossed!

[Stewymee]

Hello mate,

I too am a shift worker, and dread the week (7 days) of night shift for the impact it has on my running. I find that i function better on eating some porridge and a cup of tea a few hours before i knock off. When I get home i go straight back out the door for my run. My run is very dependent upon how i feel, rather than what is scheduled, Ive learnt to listen to my body a bit better these days. The benefit of that is that when I'm finished and finally get to bed i get a good sleep somewhere around 9-10hours (& recovery after a run). I try to back it up in the evening with a short or longer run, again dependent on how i felt and the amount of sleep I've had.

Like you there are days when nothing i do will make the run any better. I just take it in my stride knowing that another good run is around the corner.

Good luck mate.

[monocotyledon]

Wow Stewymee, I am very impressed that you manage to run after your shift and before sleeping! I've only just started managing to stay awake on the bus home. Well done!

[Peterhorse]

sounds like a one off from what you didn't eat before, during and after your shift, rather than just before your run.

also consider your hydration, you've been on your feet all night then off to sleep, you may not have nearly enough water (one glass with coffee means you probably passed it ll before you ran anyway?).

[monocotyledon]

I had about 1.5-2L overnight but then would have gotten rid of it all throughout the day - can never sleep after night duty with at least one toilet trip! I've started eating something small an hour or so before my runs now and feeling a bit better.