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Original poster

Long distance runners - what do you eat?!

35 replies

teaandcakeat8 · 05/12/2017 18:41

I'm a fairly experienced runner (been running 30 ish miles a week for a couple of years). I'm currently training for my first marathon and have a time goal, so have upped my training quite significantly.

I'm currently covering 45-55 miles per week including LSR of 15 plus.

Since upping my mileage I'm losing weight like no tomorrow. I'm not a huge eater anyway and really have to force myself but I am struggling to come up with a diet that goes with my training.

I have lost a few stone in the last few years and although I loathe to admit it, I'm scared to overeat and put it back on. But I think eating too little is affecting my health. I often feel dizzy and sick in the afternoons and I wake up in the night starving hungry.

I'm 5'8 and weight about 8 stone 10 but I have a muscular build.

So I need help to get the balance right between staying slim and nutrition!

If anyone could share their meal ideas/plans/any help at all/ it would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
teaandcakeat8 · 05/12/2017 20:03

No, I don't have an eating disorder, but I've been heavier and feel much more confident now that I'm slimmer so I am conscious of not over eating.

OP posts:
lljkk · 05/12/2017 19:53

You need to look at nutrition as an important part of your training, at that mileage. Google all the different strategies about recovery after training. Look at the unwanted eating as part of your self-discpline.

If you look at athletic training & recovery regimes, most advise that you get some calories in your body within 45 minutes after stopping (as well as during event if it's more than about 90 minutes). Protein is highly advised to help muscle recovery. Carbs to keep your blood sugar on even keel.

Even if it's just a glass of milk or orange juice is all you can stomach in that 45 minutes. The T.dFrance cyclists wolf down bowls of rice, typically, as soon as they finish their warm down sessions & sometimes before.

MarmaladeIsMyJam · 05/12/2017 19:35

Are you fuelling during?

abbsisspartacus · 05/12/2017 19:34

Is that you Janet? Hmm

lljkk · 05/12/2017 19:32

Do you have a history of Eating disorder, tea&cake?

Original poster
teaandcakeat8 · 05/12/2017 19:30

Did LSR Sunday of 16 miles at 8.45 MM.

But straight after I felt sick so didn't eat until about 3pm; had half a chicken sandwich then went out to the pub and had a burger. Nothing else all day. Woke up at 3am on Monday starving and struggling with hunger today too.

OP posts:
Original poster
teaandcakeat8 · 05/12/2017 19:28

I run 8 minute miles... think the problem is not feeling hungry after a run, being scared to overeat and out on too much weight and not knowing the most efficient way to fuel! There's also only me to feed so I suppose I need to put in more effort.

OP posts:
MarmaladeIsMyJam · 05/12/2017 19:20

That’s a very low weight for your height and the amount of miles you are packing away.
What exactly is the problem?
Not hungry after a run (takes me ages to eat!)
Not fuelling properly before a LSR?
What kind of MM are you running?

lljkk · 05/12/2017 19:15

Don't eat junk, keep the protein & fats up.

shushpenfold · 05/12/2017 18:48

When I was running heavily I had to intersperse meals with higher calorie snacks...bacon and cheese danish at 11am is the one I remember. I ended up having a ‘running weight’ of 9 st 11lbs (I’m 5’10”/5’11”) At less than that I started to feel weak and dizzy and more than that and I felt I was just carrying stuff around with me. You seem light to me so I suspect you need to find your running weight too. Good luck. X

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