Question of the week: Race Day Nutrition
I get a lot of questions from friends and former trainees regarding Running, Racing and Triathlon. These frequently asked questions come from Newbies and Vets alike. So I figured, it would be helpful to post a few that come in.
This week's question was from a friend of mine running the LA Marathon. It'll be his first Marathon and with the Race a month away he's starting to think through his plan for the Big Day.
Correspondence:
Hey Shannon,
So the LA marathon is coming up. My training has been going good. Few ups and downs, but I am on track.
One question I had.
I was introduced to hammer nutrition products thru a friend. I like the stuff, and I've been using it on my long runs. I have a loop that I've been running and I stop by home on my loop for my premade drinks.
I really don't want to carry bottles with me on marathon day, so I am stuck with a dilemma.
What do you do on marathon day? Do you just take some goo and drink the sports drinks and water that they provide at the event?
So I can either make some bottles, get a bottle carrier and run with it. OR put some goo in my pockets and drink the sports drinks and water on the course.
Confused. Could use your advise please.
Here's my response:
This week's question was from a friend of mine running the LA Marathon. It'll be his first Marathon and with the Race a month away he's starting to think through his plan for the Big Day.
Correspondence:
Hey Shannon,
So the LA marathon is coming up. My training has been going good. Few ups and downs, but I am on track.
One question I had.
I was introduced to hammer nutrition products thru a friend. I like the stuff, and I've been using it on my long runs. I have a loop that I've been running and I stop by home on my loop for my premade drinks.
I really don't want to carry bottles with me on marathon day, so I am stuck with a dilemma.
What do you do on marathon day? Do you just take some goo and drink the sports drinks and water that they provide at the event?
So I can either make some bottles, get a bottle carrier and run with it. OR put some goo in my pockets and drink the sports drinks and water on the course.
Confused. Could use your advise please.
Here's my response:
Hey SXXXX!
I love hammer nutrition! I tend to use their gels for running and the Perpetuem for biking.
You have a few options:
-Continue using the Hammer nutrition but consider using a running belt (either a Fuel Belt or a single bottle pack sold in running shops)
-Switch your nutrition to what's being offered on the course
If you decide to try a Fuel Belt, I suggest getting one now and running with it on your long training runs. It might take some getting used to. But this way you can carry your nutrition needs with you on the course.
If you decide to switch to what's offered on the course then I also suggest you try that on your long runs now. You'll want to see if it contains enough calories to support you during the race and (more importantly) you'll want to make sure it agrees with you... would hate to be in the port-a-potties because it didn't.
Everyone is different, but I like to run with GUs or Hammer Gels, and I'm sensitive to the sugar in many of the refueling methods. So, I tend to do those every 4-5 miles and supplement it with water on the course. I train with a Fuel Belt, but I race with only my Gels and plan to drink water at each station.
Does that help? You have time to still figure it out, but I'd recommend trying a Fuel Belt since you know you like the Hammer products...
Good luck!
Shan
I love hammer nutrition! I tend to use their gels for running and the Perpetuem for biking.
You have a few options:
-Continue using the Hammer nutrition but consider using a running belt (either a Fuel Belt or a single bottle pack sold in running shops)
-Switch your nutrition to what's being offered on the course
If you decide to try a Fuel Belt, I suggest getting one now and running with it on your long training runs. It might take some getting used to. But this way you can carry your nutrition needs with you on the course.
If you decide to switch to what's offered on the course then I also suggest you try that on your long runs now. You'll want to see if it contains enough calories to support you during the race and (more importantly) you'll want to make sure it agrees with you... would hate to be in the port-a-potties because it didn't.
Everyone is different, but I like to run with GUs or Hammer Gels, and I'm sensitive to the sugar in many of the refueling methods. So, I tend to do those every 4-5 miles and supplement it with water on the course. I train with a Fuel Belt, but I race with only my Gels and plan to drink water at each station.
Does that help? You have time to still figure it out, but I'd recommend trying a Fuel Belt since you know you like the Hammer products...
Good luck!
Shan
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