Getting ready for fall race season

Fall race season is around the corner - which is very exciting and moderately terrifying. My training has been sub-par throughout summer thanks to the puppy, my man, yoga and, you know, life. But guess what? The Chicago Marathon is 6 weeks away and my running shoes are back in business. Hello blisters! 

In other news: I will be pacing the 2:00 group at the Rock n Roll LA Half Marathon in late October - a great race worth checking out. 

In the meantime, I wanted to share a few tips on how nutrition can help you become a better runner. It's not "just food"…it's your fuel!

Eat to train, don't train to eat.

A simple rule of functional nutrition, basically saying that food should help you reach your training goals.

Here are 5 simple tips to help:

1. Rather than focusing on “race day fuel”, eat well throughout the training season. Lay the foundations for a healthy body so you can reap the benefits of your training.
2. Don’t start a workout when you’re hungry. Have a light snack so you avoid overindulging on [insert favorite junk food] after.
3. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. If it’s hot out or you tend to sweat a lot, add some nuun tablets to your water.
4. Avoid food-based rewards for workouts and focus on smart fueling strategies before and after you train.
5. Have a plan about what you’re going to eat after you work out. You need carbs and protein to speed up recovery, but unless you worked really hard, you will not need to stomach a full meal.

Re-defining the role of food as a way to support and help your body perform at its best at whatever you choose to do will set you up for success. Keep it real and enjoy good food.