Marathon "food" ideas

jenotter · Aug 22, 2010

My last 4 marathons, I've had serious post-race stomach issues. Aside from the intense abdominal pain starting about 30 minutes after finishing, let's just say nothing stays in the system (immediate rejection), and I've needed to spend the rest of the day in bed. I never seem to have problems in training...just after the actual race. And only the marathon distance. After deconstructing it a bit, the only thing I can think of is the combination of gels/blocks/beans/etc. with pushing harder on race day. 
 
So...I'm looking for "real food" ideas that I can easily carry in a fuel belt. Today I made a small PB/honey sandwich on homemade wheat bread and it worked fine (actually felt pretty peppy after eating just 1/2!). But I like/need variety during the race...any ideas??? I do well with bananas, but not sure I can carry those easily without them getting squishy.
 
Thanks in advance!

Stitcher · Aug 22, 2010

Jen....
After all (ok, both of the only 2 I've done) of my marathons, and even after IMFL, my gut is completely uninterested in food.
My body, though, wants it.
 
So, post marathon (first time), I ate, super slowly, a plain baked potato that the race provided. Best damn potato I've ever had!
After the second one, I had mostly liquids, and slowly....then, went for a birthday dinner that was at least 6 hrs after the race.
 
After IMFL, the thought of the post-race pizza made me want to hurl, so I sipped gatorade, and forced myself to eat chicken and rice once we got back to the condo, about 2.5 or 3 hrs after I finished. 
 
Maybe, what you might want to think about are calorie rich, but liquid, things that you can injest immediately post-race, then after a few hours, get some bland solids in to your body.

Thor · Aug 22, 2010

The upset stomach *could* be from either ingesting too many calories during the race or being dehydrated. There are a host of other factors, but these are the easy ones to look at.
 
I see many triathletes trying the marathon for a first time ingesting way too many gels and things. With running it is harder, and the body, although it needs the fuel, can't process it when the heartrate is too high, which comes on more in running than other sports.
 
Dehydration is another one. Many runners cross the finish line of marathons in an utter state of dehydration, and when that happens they usally have tummy issues of a sort (bathroom or just pain getting anything in even water).
 
Just brainstorming here for you, as there are many other reasons. But if you are fueling for the marathon like you would a half Iron or Ironman, you are probably taking in far too much and cuasing the issues by it.

jenotter · Aug 22, 2010

Interesting thoughts...and more to think about. Especially the dehydration thing.
 
I usually don't take in a ton of calories during a marathon - mainly because I can't handle too much in my system (makes me nauseated). I typically average 100/hour in a marathon.
 
That said...during a race last year, I was using E-gels and I had 1 an hour. Just re-read the label and they have 150 calories. So, maybe that was the culprit for that race.
 
This definitely gives me more to think about...appreciate the feedback!!!

pcsronbo · Aug 23, 2010

And don't rule out the gels/etc because it just may be THAT KIND that bugs you. Could try CarboPro in your water bottles, they seem easy to digest. Also, CeraSport which is in use at Rev3 - I used that on a 5 hour bike/swim in 100 heat and it sat well - only later did I realize "hey, I normally cannot tolerate much at that heat!"

My point... need to experiment some more. "natural" foods are not necessarily better foods unless your tummy says so
 
you didn't say what your hydration was like though....training and racing?

jenotter · Aug 23, 2010

Thanks for more tips! I've tried and had to rule out a lot of products over the years (Gu, Clif Shot, Hammer, Crank E-gels, Carb Boom, Clif Blocks, sport beans...that's what I can remember right now)...they are fine for a while, then I start having trouble with them. The blocks are the one thing I can go back to every once in a while but not for an extended period of time.
 
On hydration...I stick with water and G2, alternating them every 1.5-2 miles for long runs, and after whatever I eat (which is hourly).
 
Hmmm...I may have just stumbled onto something. I used to only use regular Gatorade and never had the problem. Wondering if it's the G2????

mmoonptdeux · Aug 23, 2010

I kinda' echo what Thor says - I started going with less replenishment but done more often.
 
These days I take 3 sport beans or one blok with water every 30-45 min, depending on my pace and the weather. It has worked for me with gels too, but carrying around a half-full gel pak in your running shorts isn't the best idea trust me (I know there are flasks around which can do this task better).
 
FWIW, I ran with a marathoner last year who had numerous tummy issues who swore by the Honey Stinger Chews - never tried them, so I can't vouch for them (but I tend to have a stomach that takes pretty much anything well)

phdatc · Aug 25, 2010

My first suggestion for the tummy issues would be to check HOW the particular gel is getting you the sugar/calories. If it is glucose, you are probably fine. If it is a combo of sucrose and especially Fructose then the GI troubles are likely due to that. Fructose is a known problem causer for many people esp. runners. 
 
The G2 is using a simulated sugar to get the sweet taste without the actual sugar, and regular Gatorade has thankfully moved away from the high fructose corn syrup. Sounds like you should give the regular Gatorade a try, and then you can decrease the amount of nutrition you need to ingest along the way.

jenotter · Aug 28, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by phdatc <a href="/forum/thread/69628/marathon-food-ideas#post_1938002"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> My first suggestion for the tummy issues would be to check HOW the particular gel is getting you the sugar/calories. If it is glucose, you are probably fine. If it is a combo of sucrose and especially Fructose then the GI troubles are likely due to that. Fructose is a known problem causer for many people esp. runners. 
 
The G2 is using a simulated sugar to get the sweet taste without the actual sugar, and regular Gatorade has thankfully moved away from the high fructose corn syrup. Sounds like you should give the regular Gatorade a try, and then you can decrease the amount of nutrition you need to ingest along the way.
</div>
</div>
 
Yeah...I'm thinking I need to go back to regular Gatorade. I realized my pre-kids racing was before G2 was out, and I never had these issues. After having my kids and going back to training and racing, I went with the G2 thinking less calories had to be better for getting rid of the baby weight, and ever since then have had the problems. Good call on the sugar in the gels too...thanks for the info!!!

Marathon "food" ideas

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