It’s hard to believe that I have been running for almost
five years now. My first half-marathon was November 2009 when I ran the
Battleship Half Marathon. You can read all about my running story here. I ran all my
long runs by myself in the early mornings through downtown Greenville. I ran
many miles around ECU’s campus enjoying the quiet and laughing at the wreckage
of the parties the night before. Over these last five years, I have learned a
routine and what works for me when I run. I always try and mix it up but end up
going back to my tried and true favorites.
Before any long run, I enjoy a snack of a banana and a
tablespoon of peanut or almond butter. On really long runs (13+ miles), I add a
slice of bread and make a PB & banana sandwich.
My drink of choice to sip while running is water mixed with
Nuun Energy. It helps keep electrolytes
in balance and keeps my energy up during my run. It also has a boost of Caffeine which helps
when you hit a wall.
Getting extra nutrition while completing long runs is very important to ensure your body can preform it's best. When I run more
than 60 minutes, I make sure I take in extra fuel. It's different for everyone so make sure to find what works for you. The important thing is to eat before you get
hungry. My favorite brand of race fuel is
Cliff. Cliff Shot is my go to fuel for
long runs. The flavors actually taste like their names and their products and they are
95% organic. When it is really hot outside, I eat Cliff shot bloks in Margarita
flavor.They have salt to help equalize your electrolytes from sweating so much
and prevent cramping.
After a run, I enjoy a protein smoothie or Hammer’s recovery
drink Recoverite. This drink has a ton of carbs in it to help your body refuel
after training. I have found drinking
this after long runs helps minimize post-exercise muscle soreness. It is also made with natural ingredients.
I hope these tips help keep you at your best on your next long run or any endurance activity!
Wow this post answers almost all the issues I was having when I was running long distances. You might have just convinced me to run another half. I said never again after dealing with extreme muscle soreness for days after running anything over 10 miles. :( Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDelete