Eat to Run

If you consider yourself a dedicated runner, then you may want to take a second look at the amount of calories you consume per day. Serious runners need to eat…lots. The sad truth is that most runners simply don’t eat enough causing fatigue and serious physical problems.

Runner's Food

While most people may be avoiding carbohydrates, as a runner you need to eat lots of complex carbohydrates. Why? As you run, you will use these carbohydrates as a form of energy. In addition, lean red meat; fish; poultry; dairy products; bananas; and sports drinks should all be a large part of your diet.
If you find yourself crashing during any kind of a workout, you are probably not eating enough food. Runners need to consume a large amount of calories per day in order to train properly. This means eating at least three meals a day and it can mean eating six to seven small meals per day.

Of course, it is also crucial to eat foods that are low in sugar, fat, and salt, so a bit of careful planning is necessary. Once you know how many calories per day you should consume (consult a BMI calculator), then you can start picking and choosing healthy meals to snack on.

As a runner, it is never a good idea to skip a meal. It is an even worse idea to replace a meal with a long run. While you may feel light on your feet at first, you can bet that lack of proper nutrients will cause you to stop your run short.

Taking the time to care for your body includes eating well. If you can master the types of foods that you should be eating early in the running game, then you will find that adding miles is easy to do. Your body needs lots of fuel to function efficient – make sure to feed that body properly!