What to Eat During a Marathon Should you eat during a marathon? They tell you not to eat before you swim, and every time you have ever eaten before you exercise, you always feel heavy and slow, and you might even feel a bit nauseated. This is especially true if you are exerting yourself for a run. A marathon definitely qualifies as one of those “exertion” runs. There is a stigma amongst runners that no matter how much you prepare, there is a wall after mile 20. Getting to mile 20 can be a challenge, but passing it becomes increasingly difficult by the step.
Energy Runners lose energy, motivation and heart after they hit this wall. Legs refuse to lift. Muscles refuse to stretch. The idea of moving one more step is hard enough to endure, let alone finish out the several thousand more it will take you to get to the finish line. The final six miles comes down to a game of determination as opposed to stamina. Or does it? If it does, you could seriously injure yourself, forcing you into electrosurgical procedures to fix everything you did to yourself. Your mind is stronger than the body it is true. You can force your body to do just about anything if you set your mind to it. Pain exists for a reason though, and you should only allow yourself to reach a certain threshold before you start taking action. Therefore, should you try to cross the next six miles without proper preparation; you could end up on the table undergoing electrosurgical procedures. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to avoid this situation. And that includes eating the right foods. You want to reenergize yourself throughout the marathon—not just when you are tired.
Electrolytes Should you wait until you feel you need it, you are already too late. It is therefore imperative that you replace needed electrolytes before they’re all gone. You may still grumble about the fact that it is very uncomfortable to run on food, even impossible when replacing the energy source for running. Fortunately, there are more ways than you can get your needed amount of nutrients without eating a full course meal.
GU has taken off in the running world. Pop these babies in about once every six miles and you will have energy to spare for the next six. They are small and easy to use. Little candies are also nice to snack on. Things like gummy bears can give you amazing boosts if you conserve them throughout the race. Watch out because they might get a bit sticky.
Sugar If you don’t like gummy bears, find another sugar substance that can give you almost instant energy throughout the twentysix mile bucket item you’ve been waiting your whole life to do. Also consider taking a small energy bar or two with you. These tend to be a bit denser, but they pack an incredible amount of punch over a longer time period. Nibble on one for several miles, or eat one whole in one. They will help keep your body strong and your muscles working. It’s when your muscles slowdown that you risk injury and electrosurgical procedures. Your form depletes and some muscles stop working with other muscles, increasing your chance of injury. The greater the chance of injury equates to a greater the chance of electrosurgical procedures.
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