First 15km Run Training: Week 2

History: Training for my first 10km run: Part I. Part II. Part III.

My first run was on early November 2011. I joined a 10km run to encourage myself to run. Not run farther, or run longer, just to run; because prior to that, I only jogged whenever I forced my dad to exercise with me, or brisked walked (with 5-10min jogs and sprints) for cardio. With my scheduled weight training, I didn't think I could fit in running.

The problem was: whenever I see professional runners on television, they have abs.

Some are too skinny for my taste, but that can be easily remedied with food and free weights. So I decided to run and I've been running four or five times a week since mid October.

Yesterday I reached 13.5km in 1.5hours. That was my comfortable, "I can probably do this for three hours"-pace. That's the farthest I've gone ever. And the goal is to be confident that I'd finish 15km in a couple of weeks for my second run.

I'm feeling pretty good that I'd reach my first 15km next week. And I'd do 16km the week after that. And that I can just keep adding 1km every week until I can join a full marathon - hopefully by December 2012.

The only problem I have with running is that I get these terrible stomach cramps after. But based on what I've been reading on Runners forums online, mine is a pretty mild case because I can still survive the day at work while some of them can't leave home because of diarrhea.

For those stomach cramps, I just suck it up and go on with my normal day. And I force in a huge breakfast (as my post-run meal) even though I have zero appetite. I tend to feel better five hours later, after lunch.

Because I used to suffer from chronic stomach acid attacks, I always make sure I have a small pre-run meal composed of: cereals in whey protein shake (instead of milk). I take it 15mins before I leave, but most articles say that I should give it more time to settle... unfortunately, I don't have that time, and fortunately, I already started doing it and found out it works for me anyway.

I'm still looking for the best pre-run cereals... So far I've tried:
1. Kashi's Original Go Lean Crunch!
2. Quaker's Oatmeal Squares

The Kashi package I bought lasted so long that half of the stuff was chewy instead of crunchy when I had them. I think the calories are pretty high, but since I'm in a hurry to be off and running, that's a good point. The Quaker Oatmeal Squares are 'meh' in taste, but it's cheaper and serves its purpose. Also, I'm already eating my cereals with protein so I don't really need the extra protein from GoLean.

What do you eat pre-run if you go first thing in the morning?