The FastDay Forum

I like running. I usually do between 3-5 miles on both Saturdays and Sundays and on any days when I don't have to go to work. I have been doing it for about 5 years and I have built up a comfortable endurance. I usually run on a treadmill indoors, but this year I have singed up for a 5 mile charity run. It's on May 6 and I have been wondering if I should switch to normal eating the whole week before the run?
Since I've been on the 5:2 diet I noticed that on my Saturday morning runs I am completely exhausted (I usually fast on Fridays). I have no energy.

It varies from person to person, and you should experiment a bit and see what works for you.

I've run (roughly 5k) on a fast day, and also immediately after a fast day (ie before breakfast the next day), and felt absolutely fine. Do you take anything like a cereal bar or something carby before your Saturday run?

Hi there Annabelle, I run 10 miles twice a week, one on a fast day and one on a feed day immediately following a fast day. I also have a personal trainer that puts me through weights/chin dips/boxing that I do on a fast day and walk my 2 dogs 8 miles every day. There is no discernible difference on how I feel on any of those days, however, I think working out on a fast day edges it on how good I feel & how much I can achieve. I don't feel at all hungry following the exercise and find I skip meals on the feed day run as I haven't got the appetite!! Maybe look at what you eat to break your fast on the Fri night before your Sat run to give you a bit more fuel and to stop you feeling so tired? You could try swapping your fast day one week and run on that instead-see how that makes you feel? Especially if you have loaded up on your feed day previously. Good luck and I'm sure you will find the balance that suits you best x

I'm a double faster. In addition to doing 5:2, I also live the Fast-5 lifestyle. (Fast 19 hours every day, eat in a 5-hour window) I've been doing F5 since 2007. Once your body is used to the fasting, there should be no problems. I workout on an elliptical first thing in the morning, or spend the day hiking, etc. in a fasted state. I actually have more energy fasting than I do in the evenings. Rather than stop 5:2, try rotating your Fast days.

you've given me two good ideas: I can break my fast Friday night or maybe move my fasting day to another day. Or maybe I will fast on my running day. The run is in the morning and I've found that exercising decreases my appetite significantly for hours.
I like to run first thing in the morning and I can't eat or drink anything before my run. If I even have a couple of sips of water, I get really bad cramps in my side while running. They get so bad I have to completely stop and it's the end of my run. I've had this problem for years.

Annabelle, I too run first thing in the day on a completely empty stomach-I also get the stitch-like cramp if I've eaten on drank anything. I ran yest (normal feed day) and didn't eat a thing until 8pm as my appetite had completely gone so I'm sure turning a run day into a fast day would suit you-you can only try can't you?

I run for about 40 minutes every other day, but when I tried to run on a fast day, I was tired after only 10 minutes, and had to stop.

I had no energy. On the plus side, my overall endurance has increased since starting this WOE, but only on non-fast days.

I find running on a fast day is fine but the day after a fast I do find it a little bit harder.

I run 5kms every day, no probs on as fast day but I don't find it quite as easy the day after a fast day when I run before breakfast.

I love to run in the evenings and I am amazed that I seem to have the same amount of energy I have on fast days. If I run on a fast day I seem to loose more weight.