Q:

I run cross country (5K), and at a couple meets last season, I ran and felt well the first 2 miles but then hit a wall and could barely keep my legs moving. I felt totally gassed with no energy left. Have you seen this problem before and what could it be?

A:

It sounds to me like you need to try eating something small closer to race time. I struggled with the same issue in college and found that it helped a lot if I ate a banana about 30 minutes before start time. This was in addition to the oatmeal, toast, coffee and water I’d have about 3-3.5 hours before start time.

I would suggest experimenting before hard workouts and races to find the right timing and the right fuel for you. Everyone is a little different. Good lucK!