When do I eat?

Sometimes I feel like the hardest part about being a runner is figuring out when to eat.

When I step out of bed in the morning, my body feels the eight-hour fast it just did. At that moment, I am almost never able to convince myself to continue fasting.

A run immediately after breakfast will be halted by an upset stomach. If I wait too long to start my run, I probably won't get to work on time. Because of these obstacles and my inability to rise insanely early, I don't do a lot of morning runs during weekdays.

My early evening yearning for food is even stronger. After finishing the work day I feel desperate to eat. At the same time, I feel desperate to move, because I have an office job and I'm a runner gosh darn it. As recently as two years ago (before my ankle injury), I was somehow able to consistently run before dinner. An oatmeal and fruit breakfast followed by a colossal salad with whole wheat bread and tons of coffee would take me through the entire work day and a post-work run. 

Now, my running and eating schedule vary each day. 

This personal struggle is one of the many reasons I am extremely impressed with any great runner with a day job title that is something other than "runner". Hilary Dionne, who completed this year's Boston Marathon in 2:40:42, is one of such people, according to an article by Sarah Lorge Butler, which was published on the Runner's World Web site on "Marathon Monday". Dionne is both an elite runner and director of operations for a company, Butler reported. 

I hope Dionne is taking time to bask in her most recent success. I admire her and would love to adopt her weekly meal and training schedules (albeit with a few less miles). Dionne and my other fellow "working runners", please tell me: "When do you eat?"

I do not mean to discount the talent and work ethic of full-time, professional runners, by the way. Of course, I am extremely impressed with them, as well.

In fact, congratulations to all who competed in the wet and wintry 2015 Boston Marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know that race is a beast in any weather.