Recently a lot of people have joined the ranks of runners, some to challenge themselves, while most run to stay fit or get a better physique. But most beginners are over zealous in both running and preparation. This is common especially in races; a lot of runners fail to pace themselves and gas out within the first 2 kilometers. The same holds true with preparation.
Proper diet plans can do wonders for your performance. You don’t need to get a dietician or count calories and deal with those cumbersome details. Just sticking to the basics is more than enough to set you on the right track. A simple running diet plan you can start with is:
- My rule of thumb is eat less but eat more frequently …say 5-6 small meals a day. This will spread out the food you eat and can be utilized better by the body.
- Drinking lots of water, especially a day or 2 before a run. Hydrating on or a few hours before a run is futile. This will help you stay fresh and prevent cramps.
- Eat lots of good carbohydrates that your body can process as fuel like pasta, oats and wheat bread. This is easily digested by the body and stays longer in your system. Using fat stores as fuel will negatively impact your performance; you’d want this type of fuel to be burned last. Worst case scenario is you burn muscle instead of fat or carbohydrates.
- Dairy and poultry products are great sources for protein and calcium which you’ll need to power your muscles. Eggs, milk, and cheese are affordable and can go a long way, especially if prepared properly.
- Last but not least fruits and vegetables. You can eat a banana or an apple with carrot stick for fiber and additional vitamins to round everything off. These are both healthy, affordable and can be eaten anywhere.
…As simple as that! no counting, no limitations, no fuss. Even a kid can do it!
