Four months ago I made the ( crazy ?! ) decision to run a marathon – the ultimate challenge for a keen runner. However, I realised that if I was going to complete the 42.2kms at the ripe old age of 52 I was going to have to prepare properly. I already had a training programme, but what I was unsure about was the nutrition side. My main concern was losing too much weight as the amount of training increased.
I had a meeting with Mrs Potts, where she talked me through some of the things I had to consider. As a result of this talk, plus reading some articles she gave me, I started to do the following things –
• for breakfast I had porridge made with milk, plus toast and fruit
• I tried to use wholemeal bread whenever possible – though it is more expensive!
• rather than just eating biscuits for morning tea, I started having a muesli bar and a banana – as well as biscuits!
• I increased my water intake by drinking regularly throughout the day
• I stopped drinking tea before my training runs, because it acts as a diuretic – it makes you dehydrated, which you don’t want!
• I started having baked beans with my lunch, which – Mrs Potts told me – is a valuable source of protein
• I tried to increase the amount of carbohydrates I was having – especially in the days before a big training run ( which was sometimes up to 3 hours ) or before the race itself. I did this by eating plenty of pasta, rice or spuds. In the three days immediately before the marathon I also drank a carbo-loading drink, which was a pleasant strawberry flavour!
• I also made a conscious effort to eat the right sort of food immediately AFTER a big training run – things like peanuts, muesli bar, banana, protein shakes
So – how did I go in the marathon? I didn’t do a great time ( 3 hours 50 minutes ) but I did the very best I could. I trained hard, I ate properly and I finished! That’s not bad for an old fella!
Simon Fordyce
HOD English
