No one ever said running was easy, but lately I’ve become increasingly aware that running seems to be getting more difficult. After my post-race antics at the Stubbington 10K in January – where an excruciatingly painful last mile saw me end up in the back of the St John’s Ambulance after a finish-line collapse – I followed this with a bout of post-race vomiting at the Brighton Half. Has running always been this hard? Or am I just prone to over-exertion?
If you’ve ever watched Sir Roger Bannister’s epic breaking of the four-minute mile, you’ll see first-hand the exhaustion that running can deliver. In fact, until Bannister cracked that landmark, many people actually thought you would die if you ran under 4 minutes for the distance. Fundamentally, I think that for some time my body has been writing cheques that it simply can’t cash. This is the result of a number of factors – busy work, busy life etc – but the reality is that I simply haven’t been doing enough training.
Fortunately I’m pleased to report that training has actually been going much better. So why then do I still feel so rubbish at the end of a race? Nailing my pre-race nutrition has to be part of the solution. I can once remember doing a cross country race when I was 14 after a bowl of Coco Pops for breakfast. Let’s just say that Coco Pops taste about as good on the way up as they do on the way down.
I’ve since realised that cups of tea and milky bowls of cereal are not the ideal start for me; I’ve tried bagels and honey but the best (and probably unhealthiest) pre-race fuel-up for me are Pop Tarts, those sugary abominations that come with a ‘toaster’ warning (but should really come with a health warning). These little pockets of joy have travelled the world with me; no matter where I am, or what race I’m doing, they at least provide enough calories to fuel me round – and mean that I’m not doubled over with nausea during or post run.
So often I’m reminded to practise what we preach; I would never preach Pop Tarts but if you’re struggling with pre or post-race nausea, perhaps you might be converted?
