Comrades Supplement Comrades Training and Info Guide, January 2016 | Page 24

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As you build up your training mileage ahead of Comrades, you will need to eat in tune with your schedule and long
training runs. Here’s some essential advice to beat the fatigue and keep you going!
– BY CHRISTINE PETERS, Registered Dietician & Modern Athlete columnist

FUEL YOUR ENGINE
You don’t expect your car to go from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on just R5
worth of petrol, so how can you expect your body to power you through
a long run without the correct fuel? In other words, don’t skip breakfast!
Many of us do that too often, and then gobble down a double helping of
convenient, often non-nutritious ‘junk food’ in the middle of the day. It’s
just not the way to do things!
Also, during your training months, it’s better to lose a bit of weight than
gain a bit – 90km will be a lot easier with a lighter frame! But you still
need to retain a build that can also keep up with the gruelling course,
and an engine that can carry the fuel properly. By eating balanced meals
throughout the day, it will also help your body to make a quicker recovery
after long runs.

KEEP THE BALANCE
Failure to eat regularly, especially before a long run, can cause a drop in
blood sugar and your energy can flag after your morning run – or worse,
during your run! Eating three regular meals a day, with healthy snacks
such as fresh fruit and nuts in between, will ensure a steady, ready supply
of fuel, whereas if you skip meals, you often end up relying on c Y