My husband is a runner.. I want nothing more than to run with him. The problem, he's a distance runner. An ultra runner. Im afraid that I won't be able to even run a half marathon because of the restrictions of how much I will be able to drink and eat.

Has anyone had the surgery and been able to start running? How did you handle the calorie intake, hydrate exc.

I've run 2 half marathons and numerous 10ks since my surgery 18 months ago. Hydration and food has not been a problem. I make sure to eat a meal with a mix of protein and carbs before a race (I favor overnight oats with Greek yogurt or Greek yogurt with peanut butter). During a race I make sure to drink at regular intervals and on longer runs I use shot bloks, 1 blok every 2-3 miles. Good luck!!

Edited January 10, 201610 yr by stacyrg1

I've run 2 half marathons and numerous 10ks since my surgery 18 months ago. Hydration and food has not been a problem. I make sure to eat a meal with a mix of Protein and carbs before a race (I favor overnight oats with Greek yogurt or Greek yogurt with peanut butter). During a race I make sure to drink at regular intervals and on longer runs I use shot bloks, 1 blok every 2-3 miles. Good luck!!

How soon after surgery did you start running? There's a big race in May.. I may start with the 5k

By big I mean there's a 5k, 10k, half and doing all three together

Edited January 10, 201610 yr by cindyw41

I started running 4 months after surgery, did my first 10k 8 months after surgery and ran my first 1/2 marathon 2 days before my first surgiversary. In that time period, I also had my gallbladder removed. Good luck with your training!

I have always been a runner, so after surgery I was running 3-5 miles again by the third week. The only times I have noticed an issue were when it was really, REALLY hot and there were 2-3 times during the summer where I got really sick, dizzy, nauseous and I was nervous that I might not make it home. I always carry a bottle of Water with me, but I also started wearing a runner's pack with a bag of granola in it. When I got sick after that I would just chew on the granola and I was fine. I haven't had this issue any time other than during the summer when I was running at the hottest time of the day, so if you're concerned, keep water with you and a little bag of carbs and you will be fine, especially on short runs.

Thank you!!

I have completed half-marathons post-op and am training for a marathon. I didn't have time to read through the responses, so forgive me if someone already said this, but google bariathletes. You'll find lots of people like you and I who do endurance sports after surgery. You just have to be careful to not over-compensate for the calories burned with lots of food. And it can be trickier to find "fuel" that works for you on long runs. I can't do any of the chews or gu or anything like that. It is a tricky balance, but you definitely can do it for sure.

I started running 3-4 weeks post op with the couch to 5k program and did my first 5k race 4.5 months post op, my first 10k 9 months post op and my first half marathon 10.5 months post op. Now have run all kinds of distances on road and trail including a bunch of half marathons, Ragnar relays, sprint triathlons and a full marathon (training for my second now).

It's completely do able! I didn't start fueling during runs until I was running longer than about an hour at a time. Then you really only need an extra 100 calories at a time, every half hour or so. And about the same 1/2 hour before the run. You don't need as much fuel as you think!

Lots of options to try, though! All the regular gu's gels and Beans work for many, but there are lots of natural options if they don't--dried fruit, pretzels, fruit pouches aimed at kids, cliff makes some whole food pouches with fruit and sweet potatoes and beets and such. Fig Newtons. Peanut Butter pretzels. oatmeal.

I make balls with 1c dried fruit, 1c nuts, 1c dates and 1t vanilla--food processor till the consistency of the inside of a fig Newton then roll in coconut flour or unsweetened coconut.

Oh and make sure you are hydrated. That can be a bigger issue than fuel. For longer runs, keep hydrated a few days before. I use electrolyte tablets in my water too. NUUN is the brand I use because they have no sugar, but you could chose sugar electrolyte drinks and then you have the fuel covered too!

Wow, thanks! This has giving me hope. The first race around here is at the end of April. He said that course is a little difficult but I think I'm going to go for it. (It's a trail run)

I LOVE this topic! I wondered the same thing i was a runner in high school and have DREAMED of running a marathon. I'm glad to see so many active runners! ????????????????

Little tia

Awesome advice from everyone and agreed , a great topic !

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

On 10/01/2016 at 4:17 PM, cindyw41 said:

My husband is a runner.. I want nothing more than to run with him. The problem, he's a distance runner. An ultra runner. Im afraid that I won't be able to even run a half marathon because of the restrictions of how much I will be able to drink and eat.

Has anyone had the surgery and been able to start running? How did you handle the calorie intake, hydrate exc.

Hey Cindy,

i noticed your post is two years old. How’s the running??

I currently have a band and have run a few ultras with it. I’ve learnt a lot. Looking to have my surgery revised to a sleeve and am keen to know if there if anyone with a sleeve has done an ultra? Or a multi day race?

Anyone run ‘keto’?

Hey Cindy,
i noticed your post is two years old. How’s the running??
I currently have a band and have run a few ultras with it. I’ve learnt a lot. Looking to have my surgery revised to a sleeve and am keen to know if there if anyone with a sleeve has done an ultra? Or a multi day race?
Anyone run ‘keto’?

Me! Not an Ultra yet but full marathons and ragnar relays. It’s totallly do able!

On 2/1/2018 at 9:27 AM, Shorty1452 said:

Hey Cindy,

i noticed your post is two years old. How’s the running??

I currently have a band and have run a few ultras with it. I’ve learnt a lot. Looking to have my surgery revised to a sleeve and am keen to know if there if anyone with a sleeve has done an ultra? Or a multi day race?

Anyone run ‘keto’?

After 3 years from the op, i'm a regualr ultratrailer. I did 4 marathon, several race over the 26 miles, a couple over 45 mi, last one the past saturday the ecotrail florence more than 84 km ad 2900 m of high gain. I' m planning to race a 120 km in june. Did you know others bariatric or better sleeved that did it before? I'm wonder that i'm the first...