Things I didn’t know when I signed up for my marathon, filled with health tips for Runners (join my Facebook group for more help like this!)
1. A marathon is 100% a mind game. Very little is physical. That’s not apparent from the outside until you’re in it.
2. The last km is the best.
3. The turn-off point for the half (if they start on the same route) is the most deliciously seductive. KEEP FOCUSED ON FINISHING.
Health tips:
You’re going to eat a f*ckload, and you’re going to need it. Flax oil, coconut oil and avocados are big calorie-fillers – USE THEM.
Use full-fat dressings, sauces and creams. Fat is the fastest way to refill calories, and you need them. (Use good ones for weight loss and energy – mentioned above)
If your heart rate after training runs is LOW, you NEED to support your adrenal glands STAT. You’re running yourself into the ground and if you catch it now, you’ll be able to turn it around faster than pushing through and then needing a recovery month (or longer).
While, YES, it’s great to be healthy, don’t just eat Sprouts (or overdo any low-cal foods). You NEED the high-cal foods when you’re doing that much physical activity.
Mix your training runs up so you train your mind and body for different stuff. Drop and do pushups every once in a while on runs to mix it up. Run just hills up and down a bunch of times sometimes. Sprint or jump in on some burst training.
Running a marathon is HARD on your body. I thought it was the epitome of health until I started (ahem, after signing up) reading about bleeding intestines, full-on bathroom explosions and electrolytes so low they can get dangerous. Off-set these on the course as much as you can with green juice, organic berries and dates in agave syrup throughout your runs for quick, natural sugar.
TRAIN ON WHATEVER FOOD YOU’LL HAVE DAY-OF. Do NOT switch up your eating habits on race day. If you train on coconut water and race-day you don’t have someone to pass coconut water to you, and you end up drinking powerade or gatorade or whoever might sponsor your race, expect your body to freak the f*ck out. It’s just science. The longest run you’ve ever done + food you VERY rarely if ever have = disaster.
Complex carbs are babes. Simple sugars while-training and while-running are total babes. Sports nutrition is different than normal healthy eating, and you’re an athlete. Eat like it.
(To know the differences, I’ve got an amazing bonus inside The Engagement Lounge Bootcamp that covers what to eat and when during workouts – find out more and grab the extended sale at glownc.ca/lounge)
Others who have run marathons will be the most encouraging crew you’ll ever hang with. They’ll have sparkles of kindness and excitement when they hear you’ve finished a marathon.
People outside of this crew will focus on your time (how long you took). They can’t understand it, and likely won’t. That’s okay. The people who’ve done it will MORE than make up for it. And you’ll be so full of love for them.
The pain the days after: actually, this wasn’t too bad for me. Or it was so bad my body made me forget it?
But the pride you feel at that finish line. I can’t even describe that. I couldn’t laugh or cry because my lungs would spasm any time emotion nearly snuck out. But that pride. Carry that through life with you always, close.
Some days you might need it, some days you’ll be able to re-live it, and all days it will remind you in the deepest way just how nothing can get in your way.
You’re stronger. More fierce. More driven. More determined. More wild. And you really can do anything. You’ll learn that. And I couldn’t be more excited when you do.
If you’d like help along your training way to eat in a style that helps you reach your goals (and helps cut down on your time), click here to look at programs for working with me one-on-one.
Wishing you the BEST race ever,
Nathalie
Holistic Nutritionist
