LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE

Sports dietitian Renee McGregor’s advice on how to get the right amount of fuel before, during and after runs

1 / Don’t fear carbs. Having a carb-based snack before and after training helps to keep the body adequately fuelled.

2 / Refuel on rest days. Too many runners think they have to earn food. That’s nonsense. You need to eat enough on your rest days to support your training.

3 / Turn down the intensity. The more intense your training is, the more stress it puts on the body.

4 / Eat on the run. Lots of runners like to eat nothing on the run, but fuelling on the move is a smart idea.

5 / Your body is a garden.

It needs to be tended.

It’s not a machine, like a car, that you can switch on and off.

If you think that your relationship with food or exercise has become unhealthy, you can find support at beatingeating disorders.org. uk. See our feature, p30.