Finding a routine which works well for the runner in you!

During this phase of the track season, I always find myself telling my athletes to go ahead and “experiment” as it is safe to do so. What I mean, is to try different foods/drinks / power bars and so on while we are in the strengthening/conditioning phase and observe how they react to the body. For instance, I would rather an athlete tell me the reason he or she cramped up on today’s tempo run was because they drank some gatorade before the workout, which they normally wouldn’t drink. Now, that person knows that it may be best to steer away from gatorade before their workouts/races to ensure they can get as much out of the run/race as they put into it and not be sidelined by side aches or upset stomachs.

I have seen many athletes come through our program not fully understanding that what they do off the track also effects them when they are on the track. I’ve heard this response way too much, “I didn’t eat or drink enough today” or “I didn’t have time to eat lunch”. Then I find them wondering why they are feeling so low and lethargic. It’s pretty interesting how foods/drinks effect our bodies differently. Just b/c you see your buddy munching down on a power bar and chugging some sport drink 30 minutes before race time, doing the same may cause some serious back firing.

So, all I am trying to get out there to you new and up coming runners (even for the experienced runners too!) is to go ahead and try something new and then observe your bodies and how you feel. Better off trying something new now, early in the season than later and risk an up set stomach at County Championships or League finals.