Snickers bar on a long run?

Are Triple Threat Power Bars not sharp enough?  I'm not following... use a knife, I'd say.

Seriously, try it.  See how you feel after your run with one.  No problem with experimenting.

Nutritionally, I don't think it's going to do anything for you.  A little sugar and taste, maybe.

I certainly wouldn't use it as primary fuel for a long ride or run, although I will use payday or other candy bars as a "palate cleanser" in long sessions (not a run, but a ride)     But you need to experiment to see what works for you.

I would use something like Snickers for an "emergency" pick me up or a "treat" during a very very long ride...

But as primary nutrition?  Nope.

This is almost certainly not a nutrition issue but a fitness one.  Unless you are starting your run with very low energy stores, you will have enough energy to get through 60-90' (or more) of exercise and the added PowerBar (220Cals) would be enough to cover any shortfall.

Shane

Personally, I can easily see it for the ride.  However, for the run, the extra fat content might cause some GI issues.  Depends on lot on your intensity level and individual tolerance.

I might recommend NOT mixing it together with PowerBar for the same long run, otherwise, if you do have any problems, how will you determine if PowerBar or the Snickers causing the issue?  Experiments work best when only one variable is modified.

It sounds like you probably need to take in more cals before your run- meaning the day/night before, not just during or right before your run. 

I have to make sure that a few days before my 20 milers that I eat good (meaning not taking in "junk" cals- but rather eating foods that will fuel my body) and properly hydrate.  If I start out with a low fuel tank it's really hard for me to make it up during a long workout.  I've found that if I started out with too little cals that no matter how many gels I take it's not enough- the damage has been done.

Try working on your everyday nutrition and see if that helps.  I've found that it makes a HUGE difference in my energy level during my long runs. 

OK,

I think I could use some help with pre workout nutrition. I get up at 4:00 AM and do not usually eat before I hit the road at 5:00. The reason for this is what I read in other publications (Going Long) that basically say that if you cant eat 3 hours before you run you should wait until you start your workout to eat. I don't want to get up at 1:00 to eat something and risk not getting back to sleep. Does anyone have any recomendations for pre workout fuel that doesn't require sleep interruption? Is there something I could eat as soon as I get up at 4:00 that would help me from 5:00 to 8:00AM?

chevy57 

BINGO!  I really think the nutrition is part of your problem! 

I personally like to eat about 30 mins for food to digest for a run- that's for lighter foods like a banana, bagel with peanut butter, oatmeal, nutri-grain bar, etc.  For "heavier" foods I give it a full hour to digest.  I have a sensitive stomach and have found that eating 30 mins ahead of time to a full hour works great for me.  I think 3 hours is a huge stretch- I can't go more than 2 hours without eating a small snack.  I would die!  It might work for some people, but not me.

If I were you I'd try eating a few ligher breakfast foods before running and see how you feel.  You can adjust your breakfast routine/timing as needed.  Also try and make sure to take in enough cals the night before.  Sometimes before bedtime I'll eat a light snack- like a banana, just to help top off the tank.  Before long bike rides or runs (even marathons) I'll wake up in the middle of the night and drink an Ensure and then go back to bed.  Then I'll eat my usual breakfast in the morning.  So far that has worked great for me!

Good luck getting it figured out.  I can almost assure you that you will feel 100% on your runs if you get enough cals prior to your workouts

First, don't be fooled into thinking Triple Treat Power Bars aren't candy bars in sports nutrition costumes. Second, as long as you try it in training and it works there's no reason not to use something like a Snickers bar. If you can tolerate the taste, texture, and get in enough plain water (not sports drink) to allow your stomach to empty, you're fine. Start washing down Snickers with sports drinks and you risk serious problems.

Your stomach will optimally empty when the carb concertraion of what you take in (sports drinks, gel + water, snickers + water) is around 6-7%. Quoting from an email I received from Brian Shea at PBN Nutrition a while back:

What I DO know is what works for me, and I found that through a few years of trial, error, and consultation with people who are a lot smarter than I am about nutrition like Brian Shea and Marni Rakes, both of whom I found here on BT.

I eat real food when doing long runs/rides. I look for candy that is low in fat and comes in 50 calorie small individual packs. Gummy type or sucking (but can choke) candy work well or pretzels but often I go by taste and something I like as a treat. It won't be my primary food but something I have every 3rd time I eat. Like I'll do gel, then shot blok, then something I like, then back to gels.

On my Ironman run I so looked forward to the collection of different food in my sn bag...what I took was pita chips and gum.

Try it on a long run and see how it works then you know going forward options of what you can eat. I would not eat the whole thing at a time.

I was going to put a disclaimer in my original post that unless you were fasting prior to running that your stored energy plus an energy bar should provide more than enough energy.  Since you are fasting prior to running (if you are up at 4, assume you are in bed by 9??) for about eight hours prior to exercising.  That means that your stored energy has been depleted so better attention to your pre-workout fueling is probably in order.

I would experiement with different foods to see what works; if you are going to have your full breakfast later, I would aim to consume 150-200Cal prior to starting your run and see how things go.

Shane

For reference download the Hammer Nutrition guide and give it a read through (not a pull for their products).

I so prefer sleep vs eating in the AM.  I make sure that I ate properly before going to bed.  When I wake I have a banana, coffee and then a gel/half PB right before I head out on a long training session.  If less than an hour I'll skip the gel/half PB and eat when I get home.  I do the same thing for races so I'm comfortable with this routine.  For training lasting up to 1.5 hours I'll take a gel/half PB at ~30-45 min, for longer then another intake every ~1/2 hour thereafter.  BTW, I stay away from sports drinks it's all water for me.

I can totally see me using a snickers for a long ride.  Not a run though - my gut probably wouldn't tolerate all the sugar.

I had a buddy who used to take roasted potatoes on the bike.