Marathon Training

KatiesNewGoals
KatiesNewGoals Posts: 29 Member
edited December 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello! So in about a month in a half I’ll begin training for my first marathon this fall (Chicago)! Since it’s my first I want to have a solid base built up. Up until now my longest mileage is a half.

I’m looking for any tips on what to eat, how much and how to fuel properly as the miles increase! For a half I usually burn 1699-1800 calories. Any advice going into this would be great! Thanks!

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Are you currently trying to lose weight?

    When I'm training for a marathon, I pretty much eat what I usually do . . . just more of it. Before my first, I used the night before my long run to figure out what kind of meals made me feel best the next day. If you don't already know what you like fueling during a run, training is a good time to figure that out too.

    Good luck with your training!
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,748 Member
    As your miles increase, you will have increased hunger. If you're trying to lose weight, do it in the early stages of training and switch to maintenance when you reach peak mileage. Try to focus on getting most of your extra calories from healthy foods. Tempting as it is to load up on junk food, your body will not be happy with you if you do. (Don't ask me how i know.) Look at your long runs as practice for the marathon, so pay attention to which foods eaten the day before and the morning before your runs help and which hurt. I found I needed to avoid fat, fiber and spicy foods the day before a long run, and had to be careful with sugar the morning of my long run. YMMV. (A friend of mine fuels on donuts and Mountain Dew -- pure sugar.) When your runs get above 2 hours, start experimenting with various gels, etc. to see which taste good, which upset your stomach, etc. I found that for me, a Gu every 45 minutes or so works, with Gatorade every 4 miles or so and water every 2 miles. Take the gels early in the run; don't wait until you're tired as your stomach will have a much harder time digesting them if you wait, and stomach cramps are not fun at 18 miles. I also found that if I sip them slowly, stretching them out over a mile or so, my stomach tolerates them better.
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