What to Eat When You’re Training for a Marathon

Figuring out exactly what your nutrition needs are when you’re training hard and logging so many miles can be difficult.

That’s complicated even further by the fact that many marathoners find they gain weight when they train because their hunger levels shoot up fast.

If this applies to you, wellness expert Michael Roizen, MD, recommends adding more protein to your diet and spacing out meals with a couple of healthy snacks (think almonds and fruit).

Here’s what he recommends eating for performing your best:

Two weeks out – Start hydrating by drinking more water and adding more complex carbohydrates, like whole-grain foods and vegetables to your diet.

Three days before the race – Complex carbohydrates should make up about 70% of your diet, fat 20% and protein 10%.

The night before the race – No new foods! Stay as bland as possible to avoid any gastrointestinal distress. A little grilled chicken, whole grains and veggies are great. Water, water, water.

Three hours before the race – A healthy breakfast of 800 to 1,200 calories will give you energy stores that last. Try oatmeal, a whole-grain bagel or nonfat yogurt. Drink plenty of water and skip the fatty foods, which can aggravate your stomach. Drink coffee if you’re used to it, but don’t go overboard ― or else you may be spending more time in the Port-O-Potties than on the road.

During the race – Keep drinking water, but also add a sports drink that replenishes the electrolytes, sodium and potassium you will burn after the first hour and a half. Energy gels are fine (provided you have trained with them and know they won’t upset your stomach).

After the race – More sports drink to replace lost nutrients. Also make sure to have something light to replace blood sugar levels, like fruit or whole-grain pretzels, and some of that lean protein.

This article was adapted from the best-selling book “What to Eat When” by Michael F. Roizen, MD, and Micheal Crupain, MD, MPH with Ted Spiker (©2018 National Geographic Books)