Nutrition for running - Half Marathon training

jdt242

Can anyone direct me to some running nutrition guidelines that have worked well for them? I am an awful grazer and need to find a daily diet plan to lose some weight before a half marathon in 5 weeks time. I am current at the top end of my recommended weight range and know I will improve my time if I can shift some weight before race day. Thanks

SimonCypher

In the 5 weeks leading up to my half marathon (Great North Run), my diet stayed the same until around 1 week beforehand. That's when I started carb loading. My diary would consist of this;

6:30am - Breakfast : which would be bagels or porridge
9am - Snack : Mixed fruit, yoghurt and some protein granola
11am - Snack : Banana or other fruit
1:30pm - Lunch : Salad
3:30pm - Snack : Chicken breast which had been oven cooked with some chilli powder
8:00pm - Dinner : Either tuna & pasta, carbonarra or chicken breast, new potatoes, brocolli and cauliflower

I was advised to eat this and eat that, however with it being so close to the race I'd advise not to try and change your diet too much as it may play havoc with your tummy.

I'm not sure if I've helped at all, however I wish you all the best with your HM and the main thing is to enjoy it and take in all the atmosphere.

Simon

dewd2

Now is not the time to lose weight. At 5 weeks out your training runs are the longest they will be before the race. Now you need to feed your body or it will give up and your race will not be enjoyable.

I lost most of my weight while training for a HM at the beginning of the year. As I got closer to the actual race I had to slow the weight loss pace down and stopped completely about a month out. As soon as I did this my long runs became so much easier.

Good luck with your race. FWIW, I was still considered overweight when I ran my HM in May and at the very top of my range when I ran the second one in September. It wasn't until the past couple months that I am finally at a healthy BMI.

truelight_photo_craig

SimonCypher wrote: »

In the 5 weeks leading up to my half marathon (Great North Run), my diet stayed the same until around 1 week beforehand. That's when I started carb loading. My diary would consist of this;

6:30am - Breakfast : which would be bagels or porridge
9am - Snack : Mixed fruit, yoghurt and some protein granola
11am - Snack : Banana or other fruit
1:30pm - Lunch : Salad
3:30pm - Snack : Chicken breast which had been oven cooked with some chilli powder
8:00pm - Dinner : Either tuna & pasta, carbonarra or chicken breast, new potatoes, brocolli and cauliflower

I was advised to eat this and eat that, however with it being so close to the race I'd advise not to try and change your diet too much as it may play havoc with your tummy.

I'm not sure if I've helped at all, however I wish you all the best with your HM and the main thing is to enjoy it and take in all the atmosphere.

Simon

I'd be really careful about changing diet this close to a race as well. Not a smart plan. Keep doing what your doing, and after the race start to put together a plan that includes training and nutrition.

runnersconnect.net/nutrition-for-runners/

jdt242

Helpful Link. Much appreciated, thank you.