Running a marathon is not child’s play. It is important to train well before the marathon as well as watch what you eat and keep fit. Here are a few quick tips on what to eat in the days leading up to the Marathon:
High Carb, Low Fat: Go far high-carbohydrate foods like cereals, breads, fruits and vegetables. Don’t consume excessively fatty foods – you will end having more fat than fuel in your body.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Don’t experiment with foods or diets that you have not tried before. Stick to the foods that you are used to eating, but cut down the fatty ones.
The night before the race, eat a bit more than usual, but not too much. It helps.
Eat a familiar breakfast one or two hours before the start of the race. Pasta is considered one of the best breakfasts to have before a marathon – but don’t have it if you are not already used to the food.
Drink lots of fluids on the Marathon morning. Tank up again about 15 minutes before the gun.
A cup of coffee in the morning usually helps if you are used to it, but too much caffeine can lead to water loss. Watch it.
And oh, don’t forget to put that smile to your lips all the time!
All of you are now busy gearing-up for the MARG Chennai Marathon 2010.. With just a few days to go for the big run, here are a few tips that will help you touch the finish-line faster and easier:
The Golden Rule of Marathon running – Start Slow. The crowd is maximum at the start of the marathon and there is no point trying to run fast. You will just tire yourself weaving through crowd. Start slowly, save the energy for later.
Maintain a steady pace. Enjoy the race. Don’t overexert yourself or sprint fast just because you feel strong. You don’t want to break down half way through it. Remember, finishing matters more than winning.
Recharge yourself. People think stop at the water points will waste time, but going without water can slow you down more. You need to consume water atleast every 15-20 mins to stay hydrated. It might also be useful to carry energy bars or gels to replenish your energy along the way.
Plan ahead. Make a list of the things you will need for the marathon a day in advance – your gear, water bottle, energy bars, timer, bib pins – and anything else you need. You don’t want to stand at the start line and realize you’ve forgotten your timer or water bottle.
Train for the Marathon. The biggest myth about marathons is that you don’t need any special training for it. Start exercising atleast 2 weeks before the marathon and prepare your body. Go for short runs everyday. Tone up those muscles!
Don’t forget to stretch. Stretch your muscles before AND after the marathon. Helps reduce weariness. Also wear comfortable shoes and clothes. New shoes are a strict no-no.
Last, but not the least – Support Others. If you pass other runners who seem to be weary, cheer them on. Just saying “Keep going, you’re looking good” might be the boost they need.
Enjoy your run, have a good time at the MARG Chennai Marathon 2010.
If you’re preparing for a marathon (such as the upcoming Marg Chennai Marathon) or enjoy running in general, you might wish to have a gadget that helps you keep track of your performance.
These gadgets keep track of your time, distance covered and other statistics, using which you can assess your performance and strive to improve upon over a period of time.
We’ve one such perfect running gadget for you, the Garmin Forerunner 305.
The device offers various functionalities such as record and share your workouts with fellow runners and your coach. It can export routes to GoogleEarth or GoogleMaps and use the data to practice, rehearse mentally and visualise your upcoming events and races.
To know more about this gadget, you may refer to Kiruba Shankar’s review on Financial Express
