Is it bad to drink Gatorade before running because whenever I run for a while a thick liquid develops in my throat which causes me to swallow hard therefore throwing off my breathing?

In general, studies have found that consuming a carbohydrate-based electrolytic drink versus water increases endurance and physical performance. If you don't like drinking Gatorade prior to a run and feel better on just water, you're probably just fine drinking water alone. Chances are, you're aiming to have an enjoyable, vigorous run, not necessarily some grueling and exhausting competitive race where you're trying to maximize your performance. Just be sure to consume a little solid food around your running time and you'll get all the carbohydrates and electrolytes Gatorade would have provided.