Anybody getting ready to run a full marathon will in all probability have some concept that they might want to gasoline particularly for the race, often through the use of the finest working gels and sports activities drinks, just because they are going to be working for thus lengthy.
Regardless that the race is half that size, getting your fueling proper for a half marathon can be very important to your possibilities of success on the day, whether or not that success entails working a PR or finishing the course with a smile in your face moderately than hitting the wall since you’ve run out of vitality.
For all the recommendation you want on the best way to gasoline a half marathon we spoke to Andy Blow, sports activities scientist and founding father of Precision Gasoline & Hydration.
Andy Blow is a sports activities scientist and founding father of Precision Gasoline & Hydration. He has a level in Sport and Train Science from the College of Tub and earlier than he based PF&H he labored as a sports activities scientist for the Renault and Benetton Components One groups, and he helped arrange the Porsche Human Efficiency Centre.
Do you want to carb load for a half marathon?
Carb loading is certainly a really helpful technique to undertake earlier than a half marathon. Quite a lot of the vitality you’re going to depend on throughout the race will come from glycogen shops in your muscle tissue, and carb loading within the remaining 48 hours earlier than the race is a confirmed method to max out these shops.
To carb load successfully you need to be aiming for 8-12g of carbohydrates per kilogram of physique weight every day for one to 2 days prior. It is a lot of carbs! It will also be useful to scale back the quantity of fiber and fats in your weight loss plan for this era so it’s extra achievable to get these carbs in with out feeling too full and taking in method too many energy general.
What is an efficient breakfast to have earlier than a half marathon?
A very good pre-race breakfast is usually very wealthy in carbohydrates and simply digestible. Should you’ve carb-loaded successfully, the principle function of the pre-race breakfast is to switch liver glycogen—sugars that may be launched later to maintain your blood glucose ranges up—moderately than put vitality into your muscle tissue, which may have been executed within the days prior.
Issues like common breakfast cereal, porridge, toast or different bread merchandise with honey or jam are staples for a lot of athletes. You may also embrace fruit juice and sports activities drinks with a high-carb content material in case you’re much less in a position to eat a whole lot of strong meals earlier than the race. Intention to complete consuming breakfast one to 3 hours earlier than the beginning relying in your expertise of how properly you’ll be able to tolerate consuming near the beginning of a tough run.
Hydration-wise, having round 500ml of a really robust electrolyte drink within the morning, which you end about an hour earlier than the beginning, is a good technique for preloading your hydration since you’ll retain the electrolyte-rich fluid higher within the physique than you’d plain water.
What is an efficient fueling and hydration technique throughout a half marathon?
Many runners discover that taking in a working gel or vitality chew, probably one containing caffeine, about quarter-hour earlier than the beginning is an efficient technique for a half marathon. This works properly as a result of it takes round 10 to fifteen minutes for the sugar from a gel to hit your bloodstream so this coincides with the gun going off and the preliminary surge of the primary few miles of the race. Should you do soak up caffeine at this level it’ll kick in round 30 to 60 minutes later, so it ought to offer you a lift mid-race.
Through the race itself, chances are you’ll wish to think about taking in round 30g of carbohydrates—roughly one vitality gel—for each hour you’re working.
Except it’s very popular and humid then merely consuming water or sports activities drinks from assist stations as you are feeling you want to is often adequate for most individuals to remain adequately hydrated. If you might have a excessive sweat charge and are going to be competing in very oppressive situations, you may think about carrying your individual bottle with an electrolyte drink to encourage you to drink somewhat extra.
Do you want to gasoline throughout a half marathon in case you count on to complete in below 90 minutes?
The half marathon is a difficult distance for fueling as a result of many sooner runners received’t eat or drink something, however some will. It’s proper on the turning level for when fueling begins to matter. Should you’re working below 90 minutes, essentially the most you’re more likely to profit from is a single vitality gel or a average quantity of sports activities drink. There may be proof that the style of sugar within the mouth could be useful to efficiency in races of this period even when it’s not clear how a lot of it turns into accessible to the muscle tissue. That is due to this fact one thing that’s price testing out in more durable coaching periods to see in case you really feel like a mid-race gel will profit you on race day.
