To eat or not to eat

     I like to hit the ground running with this race training thing.  Getting it out of the way clears the way for me to get on with all the other things I am up to in the world.

    That's not what's happening though.  I've been told to eat something before I get up and go. Nothing that's going to make me feel stuffed... just a bit of fuel for the tank.

    Usually I'll down a piece of banana with soy nut butter, or I'll spread some of that  soy nut butter on a wheat waffle.

    Here's the thing:  I have to wait for that little pre-workout breakfast to digest a bit.  That's the part I don't like.  I just want to run!

    I wonder why I HAVE to eat.  I mean I'm running a 5k, not a marathon. Please.

    So, this morning I flipped the script and I ran without eating.  I know that so much of the training is mental, so I had already planned to talk to myself though the challenging parts of the run.  I have little mantras like: show yourself strong, no surrender, the road is yours, and others. 

    I completed my run.  My legs felt dead when I came off the last hill.  I really had to push myself to make it.  The thing is, it's always a struggle at that point, so I am not convinced I need to eat.  I'm going to try it this way one more time and see if I get the same outcome.   Then I'll choose:  to eat or not to eat .  What do you think? 

    Does it matter if you eat before you run?