Marathon Nutrition Plan

If you’re tackling a marathon, you will have trained hard for months to get in great shape and ready to line up at the start of those 26.2 miles. One of the critical pieces now is your marathon nutrition plan…

The Fuelling Facts

During a marathon, more than two thirds of your energy can come from carbohydrate. Unfortunately your body is only able to store a limited amount of carbohydrate and as the miles tick by, you will deplete that store. As your carb levels fall, so does your energy, and you will find it harder to maintain your early pace. You could even hit the dreaded ‘wall’ – where your carb stores are so depleted that your muscles are forced to rely almost exclusively on fat as fuel.

The body finds it hard to convert fat to energy, which makes it tough to keep running at any pace. To ensure you have optimum carbohydrate levels on race day, you should carbo load in the days leading up to your event and consume carbohydrate during the Marathon.

During Your Marathon

Think of your body’s store of carbohydrate as a relatively small fuel tank, that starts emptying as you start running. Your muscles use carbohydrate quickly and can easily deplete that store during a Marathon. If you provide your muscles with carbohydrate by consuming gel as you run, they will take less fuel from your carbohydrate store and it will last longer. The purpose of taking gel during your marathon is to delay the point at which you run out of fuel – until you cross the finish line.

It might seem logical that the more gel you can consume, the better – but take care. You can consume (read swallow) a lot of gel, but your body can only absorb a maximum of 60g per hour (up to 75g if the gel contains caffeine). Taking too much gel too quickly can and will cause stomach problems. By contrast, taking just a couple of gels at the 17mile mark, as some people do, will only provide a short lived energy boost. Taking 2 or 3 gels every hour from the very start of your event is optimum and will mean that by mile 17, you should have a large stock of carbohydrate available for a strong finish.

Go 11 Minutes Faster

Recent Research at the Copenhagen Marathon showed that runners were on average 11 minutes faster by following our marathon nutrition guide on race day with no extra training and no stomach upset.

Race day breakfast

Breakfast should be light and high in carbs. Drink 500ml of Energy Drink for additional carbs and to stay hydrated. Take an Energy Bar to eat on the way to the start.

Novice runners

Take one Energy Aqua Gel Caffeine sachet every 30 minutes. Use a Gel Belt to carry your gels.

Experienced Runners

If you get your nutrition right, you will give yourself the best chance of getting that all-important new PB.

Take one Energy Aqua Gel Caffeine sachet every 20 minutes. If you find that 3 gels an hour is too much, try and consume as many gels as you comfortably can. Practising using gel during longer training runs makes it easier to use on race day. Use a Gel Belt to carry your gels.

Caffeine

Depending on body weight, there is a maximum number of Energy Aqua Gel Caffeine sachets you can take. Any additional gels you consume should be standard Energy Gel Aqua (caffeine free):

You can use Energy Gel Aqua instead of Energy Gel depending on personal preference. They both do the same job. Energy Gel Aqua has a lighter consistency, somewhere between a drink and a gel and runners usually prefer this. Energy Gel is less bulky and lighter in weight, which makes it easier to carry in larger quantities.

Fluids

Your fluid needs will depend on how warm the weather is on race day and how much you sweat. Try to drink water or the on-course drink regularly. If you use the on-course drink, take care not to consume too much additional carbohydrate from that drink or you will need to adjust your gel intake. In very hot conditions you may need additional electrolytes. Individual ZERO tabs can be wrapped in Cling Film and carried on your run. Simply put the tab into the on-course water to make a refreshing electrolyte drink. ZERO does not contain carbohydrate.

At the finish

Drink 400ml of Recovery Drink as soon as you finish. Drink another 400ml one to two hours later and eat a balanced meal as soon as possible.

This article was originally published at highfive.co.uk.