FUELLING UP FOR A BIG RACE
IT is easy to take hydration and nutrition for granted but these can be fundamental in your preparation, performance and even in your recovery, says Southern Cross University food and nutrition lecturer Holly Muggleston.
“A few days before the race, you need to pay attention to your carbohydrate stores,” she said. “These take the form of glycogen in your muscles and this is what will fuel your muscles during the race.
“At each meal in the days before the race, you should slightly increase the normal amount of carbohydrate that you consume. This could be with grains, muffins, fruit, potato, legumes, even flavoured milk, anything with starch and sugars – these will increase your glycogen stores.”
Hydration is equally important. The best way to check this is by checking your urine.
“About two to two-and-ahalf days before the race, keep checking your urine. If your urine is pale yellow you know you are sufficiently hydrated. If not, then you need to up your fluids intake.”
An early start on race day means breakfast needs to be something you can eat easily and quickly.
“Now is not the time to try something new as you don’t know how it will react in your gut. Simple foods are fine, whether it be cereal, fruit, toast and jam or whatever.”
As a guide, you need about 400-600ml of fluid before the race to top up your hydration, Ms Muggleston said.
Drinking too much fluid can cause gastric distress during the race. Likewise, during the race you need to make sure you have the right amount of fluid.
“If you are well-prepared, a male and with a high sweat rate, you’ll obviously need more fluid than someone else. About 400-800ml per hour during the race is a good rough guide.”
Similarly, you need to keep your carbohydrate intake up during the race, to the tune of between 30-60g of carbs per hour, which is equivalent to about 300ml of sports drink plus one gel or one to two gels.
Once the race is over, you need to replace about 125150 per cent of the fluid you have lost and protein is necessary to repair any muscle damage your body might have suffered.
“All fluids are fine in recovery except for alcohol. You might like to have a beer to celebrate but if you do, make sure you have an equal amount of water.”