Step 4 of Marathon Training - Eat for Success

This just might be the most important part of any training!  Especially the second point.  I've learned from personal experience, just because I exercise does not mean I can "eat what I want."

Stop right now and think about your daily nutrition. Proper nutrition is one of the most important aspects of your marathon training. Nutrition is, however, the most easily overlooked of all training aspects of any marathon training program. We tend to focus so much on conditioning and not on fully optimizing our training.

Train Smarter

We have all heard the saying "work smarter not harder", and this could not be any more true that in relation to your eating habits. Step four in designing your marathon training plan is committing to a better diet.

Nutrition is the fuel for our biomechanical engine. If we don't put in the right fuel, we don't get optimal results. You'll have a far better chance of succeeding if you eat the right foods and consume the proper amount of calories, minerals, and vitamins.

You Can't "Eat What You Want"

Athletes often assume that since they are fit they can eat whatever they want. While it is true that being physically fit enables people to consume more "junk food" and still have more energy and overall better health than the average person, unless your nutrition matches your training in terms of quality, your performance will suffer.

Grains, lean meats, vegetables, and fruits are all wholesome foods that will give your body the energy it needs to keep on training. Relying on pricey drinks and energy bars can get really expensive, so you'll do better if you plan meals that contain these foods.

Stay away from foods high in sugar and fat when you're training for a marathon. Your training will be negatively affected when you consume a lot of junk food. You should also steer clear of alcohol, because that will leave you dehydrated and contains a large amount of 'empty' calories.

You'll achieve your goals quickly when you incorporate proper marathon nutrition as part of your training.

Pre Training Diet

Eat a small, healthy 100 to 200 calorie snack before your workout and then a sensible snack or meal afterwards for recovery. Keep fuel available for your workouts so you get maximum benefit. The result is better performance and a better gain from the training session.

Increase Your Protein Intake

Normally, a person's recommended daily intake for protein consumption is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. But endurance athletes have different needs. Depending on body type, size, and weight, they need anywhere from 1.4 and 1.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.