It’s certainly no easy feat this Marathon lark. I’m in the midst of the first few weeks of training and it’s beginning to dawn on me how tough this challenge will be.
To really get the most of my training I have been upping the ante on my food. As any exercise bunny will tell you, your training is only as good as the food that you use to fuel it, pre, post and during your workout.
According to realbuzz (an excellent runner’s companion) a diet of pasta alone doesn’t make for balanced nutrition plan. When it comes to what you put in your body when training for an endurance event, the key to steaming straight through that brick wall is slow-release energy foods.
We’re talking, pre-race pasta and unprocessed porridge, post-workout bananas (the potassium is great for soothing achy limbs) and mid-training Glucose drinks, my saviour when I hit my brick wall 10 miles during a recent half marathon.
Choosing correct dietary choices are the key to maximizing your training, so just use your common sense, opt for the healthier version and don’t be afraid the carb it up!
Pre Workout
In an ideal world, you should eat two hours before exercising to allow for digestion. So lean meat or fish with a portion of carbs is perfect. But if you’re like me, time poor and trying to fit running after work then I would grab an energy bar or a banana to give me enough energy to sustain my run about an hour or so before.
During Workout
Flagging mid workout? Solid food is not going to sit well so try a sports drink or if you’re covering a long distance, a running gel is a great boost. As a general rule, according to Runners World two gels per hour in a long run of two hours or more should be a real pick me up.
Post Workout
The first 15 minutes after exercise is key so an energy replacement drink is ideal and within two hours, eat some whole-wheat pasta with some low-fat protein and if your workout session has been intense you may need to update your carb load for extra energy.
With 13 weeks to go eeek, if you’re looking to do a good deed today, sponsor me and the charity I am running for Children With Cancer , thank you!
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