That's kind of an interesting one: I'm remembering how it felt to be at week 4 and nervy all of a sudden! But I am doing this sientries.co.uk/event.php?e... in September, and I'm doing it as a runner not a walker, so I'd better get myself ready to run the thing. Eeeeek!
And on doctors' orders (long and basically non-health-related and therefor really annoying but there we are) I've also got to try and gain half a stone, which is a bit tricky when you factor in runs (eating nearly 3000 calories in one day to compensate is not fun), BUT I've gained 3lbs and am pretty pleased with that too.
Tips for high calorie non-hideous run-friendly food are really welcome, by the way. I am drinking so much whole milk I'll be mooing soon!
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the_tea_fairy
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brilliant on the weight gain, I know this is a real issue for you.... and I hope it continues as your marathon training will sap alot of your energy..... there are lots of recipes out there for those high energy balls out there. I am putting on a link of one of my favourite ultrarunners who loves to cook as there may be some nice recipes:
Wow! That looks a pretty intense event. Well done you.
I have one more race to get out of the way next weekend and then starting my marathon training programme proper and am surprised to find I feel a bit nervous about it, too. It does seem a bit daunting, this huge, far-off, ostensibly unattainable goal... but then I tell myself I thought that about C25k, and in many ways that journey was a harder one than this. Apply the same determination and consistency, follow the programme, lots of rest and.... SQUATS!!! and we will emerge trumphant at the other end.
Haha, you are SO much more hardcore than I am! And mine isn't a full marathon but has some reasonable height gain/rough ground, so I'm treating it as roughly equivalent and will run the training on as similar terrain as I can manage. What's your marathon? How exciting!
And yeah, squats. Though I seem to have really battered my quads doing the half. I'd been doing weighted squats but have had to ditch the Dumbbells because they still twinge! Oops! Squats and foam roller - a night in for a masochist?!
Blimey TF that looks tough but if anyone can do it you can. Congrats on the weight gain. I know how hard that is as I can lose a couple of pounds in a day and I'm running nowhere near the distances you are.
I have been drinking a post run concoction of chocolate milk with whey powder and it does fill me up and seems to give me a bit more energy. I'm only drinking it on run days but you can drink it 2/3 times a day every day so you might want to consider that. I got it in Holland & Barrett and its their own brand. The chocolate flavour is good and the strawberry one is even nicer with the chocolate milk!
Oh wow, that sounds like a challenge and a half. Not just the marathon distance, but the rough trails and the climb as well. Good on you, that will be an amazing experience!
Well done TF!!! Scary but do-able for a woman of your calibre. As for the eats. Well, I would only eat food. I have a dread of this scary body-building crap that contains who-knows-what.
A great book about ultra runners and what they eat can be found in Scott Jurek's book Born to Run. There's also a good website about running food by Katy Percy. She has a book Go Faster Food and a website with lots of recipes. I made her chocolate avocado cake and the mango one. Yummy! Recovery foods are her thing too.
I love food but you only want good food. Your body is a temple at this point in your life so you have to treat it with respect. There are lots of proteins out there, some better than others. You'll learn a lot about this subject as you progress through your training. It's true that you are what you eat and if you eat badly you'll feel like poop.
You'll notice though that marathon runners are (in the main) very thin. Not sure why you need to bulk up. Eating well is the main thing, and as long as you eat well and regularly then I wouldn't worry unduly. A varied diet that covers all the bases will be fine. Quinois, millet, amaranth, wholegrains (if you do grains), porridge (natch!) lots of fruit and veg. Beans, beans, beans. Black beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, chick peas, white beans. You can never eat enough of em. Lean meat and fish. Just keep it varied and colourful. Cut out the processed foods and ditch anything that won't help your running. Cast a critical eye over your pantry and fridge and chuck out what's unhelpful to make room for the good stuff.
We don't eat crap, and I'm healthy and strong, but (sorry if this is moaning/over-sharing) my husband carries a gene we'd rather not pass on to potential small tea fairies, and it's on a list of conditions that are eligible for NHS funding to do IVF and only implant embryos who are clear of the mutation. It's all ethically tricky, but we think, especially given high mortality in his family, it's something we might want to try. BUT, despite all the medical professionals I've spoken to saying I'm really well and the right weight for my frame, they won't even consider me for treatment unless my BMI is 19. Which seems silly, but isn't about to change just because I think it's silly, so weight gain it is.
Wow tea_fairy, I'm seriously impressed, marathon training!! My suggestion for high calorie running friendly foods, Kendle Mint Cake. Tastes filthy, pure sugar and peppermint oil but its easy to carry, although probably not easy to eat on the hoof. Seriously though, I reckon MissWs legendary energy bars are probably better. My friend ate lots of Ben and Jerrys ice cream when she wanted to put on weight, expensive but yummy. Very very best of luck, you're going to be amazing
Wow! You don't go for the easy options do you tea fairy?! I will read your replies re easy calories with interest as I always struggle to keep my weight up. Maybe not a huge issue at the moment, being unable to run due to injury, but once I'm taking more exercise again...
In terms of food for weight gain, it may be worth looking at some of the better bodybuilding/weightlifting sites. Clean nutrition for adding mass is a really big part of what they do and there are usually loads of recipes/nutrition plans. Bodybuilding.com and Barbell Shrugged are good starting points.
In terms of nutrition on the run, I shall be experimenting this week with taking sachets of babyfood with me. Ella's kitchen to be precise - it comes in convenient pouches that are easy to tuck in a waistband and easy to eat from while moving, it's organic, and there is a good range of run-friendly stuff from sweet potato to fruits purees, in roughly 60-80 calorie svings, which fits well with my plan of replenishing roughly 100cal/hour.
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