When I was training for my marathon, nutrition was an area I worried about the most. Am I eating enough? Am I overeating? Am I eating correctly? She is a mother of two boys and a vegetarian, following a plant based lifestyle. Following her studies in nutrition, she is currently pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Botswana. Saturday 21 st March The first time I have run 26kms in 3 years.
Amidst all the uncertainty around us, a small group of optimistic runners have continued to train; despite almost all of our upcoming races being postponed or cancelled. Side note, I had not planned to train for or run a full marathon this year, I just seem to have gotten swept up along the way! En-route, 26kms is quite a long way! I chatted to the ladies about nutrition and took note of who was snacking on what; we discussed their pre-run meals and hydration plans.
I myself struggle with GI distress, a condition quite unique to endurance runners and I have been looking for ways to keep it at bay, trying different pre-run snacks and on the run fueling strategies. What all of this has highlighted for me is the importance of diet and nutrition within the context of marathon training. The truth is, your nutrition through your months of training is just as important as the kilometres you log every week.
Proper, balanced nutrition will boost performance, prevent dehydration, keep your energy levels stable and aid in quicker recovery time after those long, hard runs. This is why it is important for you to get a good balance between carbohydrate and protein intake during your training as this will keep you full and fueled through all of your long runs as the kilometres add up. The rest of your plate should be filled with vegetables! Research has found that runners who increased their protein intake performed better as it helps to build new muscle fibre and mitochondria which are the cells in your body that help you burn fuel whilst exercising.
Needless to say, the more efficient your body is at burning fuel, the better you perform. There is no better source of all the essential nutrients your body requires to stay fit and healthy and recover than from fruit and vegetables.
