As I mentioned in my last post, I’m trying to up the calories and fuel myself better for running (and life). This is important obviously not only to my overall health but also because I’m still marathon training and want to continue to run healthily.
** Just to add: if putting on weight fails to do anything, then I’m heading to the doctor again and making my case fully heard, and to check there isn’t anything else wrong. I also know stopping running might be the easiest way to get things going again but I really hope it doesn’t come to that đ **
The thoughts from my previous post haven’t just happened, I’ve been thinking about it for a while and have already been upping my nutrition. This was really important after my latest marathon as refuelling and recovering effectively would hopefully mean I could jump ease back into marathon training for Bournemouth (October 4th) without major tiredness, issues or injuries. So far so good, finger’s crossed.
Straight after a marathon is a really tricky time because, like most people I’ve spoken to, I really don’t fancy anything to eat. You’ve just run for a ridiculously long time and your body is in a bit of shock and probably feeling a bit dodgy. But this is a critical time to refuel and maximise your recovery, and if you leave it too long you can end up doing your body no favours.
To combat not fancying food I bought a recovery shake from Tesco to drink straight afterwards. Drinking something is far easier than eating something. Itâs also easier to put in your bag and carry with you.
Iâd planned to take just regular chocolate milk but I liked the sound of this one with itâs added nutrients (vitamins, calcium, magnesium, etc.) and high protein (40g). Plus it was on offer in Tesco. Itâs fairly low in carbs (10g) which was a bit annoying but I knew Iâd get that sorted soon so I wasnât concerned (looking at their website I probably should have chosen the Recovery version but this one wasnât on offerâŠ). And it tasted nice.
Iâd drunk a bit more water immediately after finishing and actually wasnât thirsty at all when my dad and me were back in the car. And I needed to pee about an hour later. Usually after a marathon it takes a fair few hours to need the loo (sorry, here I go again with my bathroom habits!). I think this is a great sign that I hydrated well, despite it being a very warm day.
We knew that weâd have trouble finding a place to eat driving back home because it would be late afternoon on a Sunday and most places would be closed. The day before when we were planning I suggested to my dad something I have never suggested before to him. How about a KFC? Theyâre always open!
Iâm not a big fast food eater. I donât like McDonalds or Burger Kings (why have a teeny plastic burger when you can have a delicious proper burger from a pub?) and fast food in general isnât really my scene. However, you all know my love for a cheeky Nandoâs and chicken in general and the thought of a dirty KFC after a hard run just sounded dreamy to me.
We did have to make a detour off our route home but we found one eventually. My dad was pleased to be allowed to legitimately have a KFC without me moaning at him. To be fair he hadnât had lunch and had walked a fair distance, plus it seemed only fair considering how much of a help he was to me in supporting me.
Not my finest look I must admit
I havenât actually had a KFC since I was about 12 so I stood gawping at the menu for a bit having no idea what to choose. Eventually I went for a Mighty Bucket for One. Normally I might have been a bit dissuaded by the 1,200 calories listed next to this meal (which probably doesnât include the fries) but hell Iâd just run for 4.5 hours and needed it! I will just add, there are far better and more nutritionally sound ways to refuel after a marathon or workout â but for convenience, high calories and sheer god damn tastiness this was the ticket.
It took me a while though to actually eat the damn thing though. My stomach was cramping and I felt sick. After taking a breather I dove straight in though. I couldn’t eat it all (pretty much all the chicken disappeared but the chips were just too much for my delicate stomach â I prioritised with what I love of course!).
After arriving home and having the best shower of my life (I think I always say this after a race), I was a bit hungry again but the thought of cooking something was beyond me as I was so tired. Instead I went for the easy and tasty option of a lemon and blueberry slice of cake (thank you, Freezer Stock).
I also had some fruit and called it a night. Not a sound day of nutrition I grant you, but easy calories into the system nonetheless. The days after the marathon I made sure to keep my calories up (and of better quality). My favourite current meal is a monster salad of tinned salmon with avocado, butternut squash roasted in lots of coconut oil (heaven), and lots of veg. That might not sound that good but I made sure to have a lot of avocado in there and use a big blob of coconut oil.
And on the Tuesday after the marathon, a Nandoâs before seeing Inside Out at the cinema after work worked wonders.I think I did pretty well last week on refuelling and I’ve continued this going forward. Some days I do feel stuffed though and that I’ve eaten loads, but at the same time I know it’s doing my body good. My mindset is that this is part of running well. It’s like my strength training. Most of the time I find it quite hard to feel the same enjoyment as I get from running when I go to the gym, but at the same time I know it’s important to do so I can run. The same goes with increasing my weight. I might not enjoy my clothes feeling tighter going forward, but I’d hate to not be able to run a whole lot more.
Going forward I’ll be posting about how things are going, what I’m eating and the changes I’m making alongside my usual mumbo jumbo!
How do you recover after a marathon/hard workout?
What do you eat immediately after you work out/race?
Whatâs your favourite fast food if you had to pick one?
I used to love those For Goodness Shakes! They were my go to rowing as a teenager (pre lightweight) when my coach was trying to get me to maintain weight (back then it was going off too easily, ha!)
Gosh I think my guilty pleasure would be a McFlurry… Otherwise nothing is hugely appealing!
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I’m not a fan of McFlurry – it’s that weird ice cream that’s like Mr Whippy’s which I’m just not a fan of. Ben and Jerry’s all the way!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Gel Glorify and Luminus – Pound The Road, Not Your Feet
You know what, I have never had a KFC before. Everyone is always shocked when they hear that. It’s not a moral thing or anything, I have just never had one. Everyone raves about it though.
I think that slice of cake was a great way to refruel đ
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Mediterranean Sandwich by Karen Willis
Hahaha KFC! Sometimes I do get a whiff of craving for a Maccie D’s but then I remember I’m not drunk and it’s not 2am on Tottenham Court Road…
I had my fill of junk food when I was a kid, I really don’t need it now! But that salmon salad you described genuinely made my mouth water. Funny how tastes change over the years!
Ooh no I’m not a McDonald’s fan at all! Except the chips maybe…so salty and good.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Gel Glorify and Luminus – Pound The Road, Not Your Feet
That picture of you with your medal (in KFC) is just brilliant- it totally shows that amazing feeling of elation and exhaustion after a marathon – well done again.
I don’t really like any fast food (most of them are meaty things anyway) and I only think I have ever had one veggie mc burger thing- never KFC or anything so I would go for a Starbucks cinnamon roll- so tasty, and I shall ignore the sugar in there (although I think it’s not as bad for you as their muffins and things).
Inside Out- yay! We went to see it before our holiday and I thought it was brilliant, although after I heard the film podcast with Edith and that guy (James?)- I felt like his review totally spoiled the film and I was glad to have seen it before I heard that show.
I am not good at eating right after races either- sometimes I get really hungry, but mostly my stomach feels dodgy and I get eyes-bigger-than-belly syndrome. I tend to drink things with calories in them (chai latte, yum yum) because that seems to get digested a bit better.
I do find walking is better than being still, but after my long marathon training runs I got into the habit of shower, food, walk, afternoon nap, and that helped loads too as I got so tired from the running.
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I was exhausted haha!
I really need to try that cinnamon bun from Starbucks. You make a lot of lovely high standard cakes so I imagine it’s got to taste quite nice if you enjoy it đ
Haha I think the guy’s name is Robbie – I cannot wait until Mayo and Kermode are back. So fed up of Edith and Robbie now. I don’t hate them, I just don’t get the same buzz from the show. I do like their accents though.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Gel Glorify and Luminus – Pound The Road, Not Your Feet