Running on a full stomach

So here we go! First of all, I want to write about running on a full stomach. This past Saturday was a good day for me. The weather was great, my foot felt better, the list goes on. In the morning I ran 18 miles before bus visitation at the church. Those 18 miles were ran on an energy shake, two granola bars, and a Rice Crispy treat--all bought from 7-Eleven on the run. The calories were evenly spread out and lasted me the whole run, so I felt great. After visitation, I ran four miles from my house to a church picnic on a fairly empty stomach. But during the picnic, I got very hungry so I ate three cheeseburgers, a large helping of potato salad, and two pieces of cake. Then, after a quick family game of kickball, I ran the four miles back home. This run was miserable! Though my feet still felt fine and my energy level was good, I felt the whole time like I was going to puke. I love eating beef after a long run. Many times after a race, we will go out and eat steak or burgers (and I will usually enjoy a Coke as well). But I don't recommend three cheeseburgers right before or during a run.

In an ultramarathon, nausea usually comes to me at about thirty miles. What happens is I am doing good for twenty miles or so on little snacks they provide at the aid stations: M&Ms, Pringles, little PB&J sandwiches, etc . But then the real hunger starts to hit or I can just feel that I am going to have to load up on some serious foot in order to finish. Sometimes I will be offered sandwiches or bananas, or a whole variety of foods and I'll just overdo it. So I will spend the next ten miles just wishing I could vomit, but I never can.

So what is a guy to do? I guess I can keep eating small portions of snacks, but they don't quite seem to sustain this 216 pound body. Carb jells and drinks seem to cause me indigestion and fail to provide the protein that my body needs to curve the hunger and support the muscles. But this April I'll be running a 100k trail run and I've got a plan. I've been experimenting with a product that I think will do the trick. More on this later.