I’m going to start right here by saying I am not a dietitian or an expert on food in any way (although I would describe myself as a very enthusiastic amateur eater). But I’ve had quite a few messages asking me what I’m eating while I’m training for a marathon, so I thought I’d get all Pete Evans on your ass and get to sharing.
Although I say I’m no dietitian, I am actually seeing a fantastic dietitian and following a plan so that I am in the best shape possible to run 42.195km at the Gold Coast on 3 July. Can we just take a moment to appreciate how long that is and how soon that is? Yep. Okay. Moving on…
I’m focused on three things right now:
- losing some body fat so I’m sleek as a mofo, making hauling my frame around that course a little bit easier
- fuelling effectively to be able to run for a really really really really long time
- sorting my IBS gut issues.
I’m not going to focus on the gut stuff today because marathon training with IBS is super niche (I’m doing it before it’s cool), and only three of you would find it useful. I know I have issues with lactose, so when you see dairy in my plan, I am having lactose-free stuff. If you don’t have any issues with dairy, feel free to proceed like a normal person.
Okay, so here’s a typical day on a plate:
5:20am Wake up and eat a banana (I skip this for easy runs, but have a bit of fuel before long runs or interval training)
5:30am Run, Forrest, Run! (If I’m doing a long run, I’ll take Gu Chews or Gel with me and have one pack after each hour of running.)
7am (ish, generally just after I get back from training) 3/4 cup Table of Plenty nicely nutty muesli; 1 cup of fruit (raspberries and rockmelon are favourites); 70g yoghurt; splash of milk
10am 2 rice thins with 100% peanut butter
1pm Wrap bread with a couple of slices of cheese (my gut can tolerate hard cheeses, thank the universe), a metric buttload of salad veggies and about a tablespoon of tahini
4pm A piece of fruit and 2 squares of super dark worthy chocolate (wooooot!)
7pm 200g grilled tofu (you know, or a steak about the size of your palm, we roll both ways here); corn on the cob (or a baked potato or sweet potato) and another buttload of salad with a splash of olive oil and lemon juice
9pm Herbal tea (I know, par-tay! I really like licorice tea to finish off my day. It curbs any sweet cravings I have and I have this Pavlovian association between licorice tea and sleep now.)
Obviously, that’s just one day. I do also eat a fair amount of spelt sourdough bread and potatoes, which make me very happy. I’m never hungry, and I love that I get to still eat chocolate.
I’ve been steadily losing fat (I know this because I am submitting myself to the fortnightly humiliation of those skin calipers squeezing my bits all over the place) and, along with the awesome training with Operation Move, I am getting fitter and leaner by the week.
So what do you think? Could you live on that?
You are my hero! So disciplined.
Oh thanks Renee! I think the discipline in both the running and eating has built over time so it hasn’t seemed like a big deal from this side. And because my diet was restricted because of the IBS, having a plan has actually been a relief. xx
Nope not a hope in hell but I also couldn’t train for a marathon so I figure I won’t worry too much about it lol. In the meantime go you!
Hahaha, you cracked me up Kit!
Interested to know if you’re a vegetarian as well? Fellow IBS sufferer here. Is there any meat in your diet? PS you will smash this marathon
Oh thank you, Diana! No, I’m not vegetarian. I’m not crazy about red meat but will have it once or twice a week. And I eat plenty of chicken and fish. I do also like plant-based protein so include that where I can.