By Isagenix Nutritional Sciences
“One step at a time is all it takes.” This is the advice Jennifer Pinner shares on her running blog, MarathonForGood.WordPress.com, on how others can achieve as much as she does, which includes managing her weekly runs along with the responsibilities of marriage, motherhood, and churning out content as the senior communications specialist for Isagenix. Her blog is dedicated to her latest pursuit, which is fulfilling her dream of running the Boston Marathon on April 18, 2011.
She is running the marathon on behalf of Childhelp®, an organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect. To donate to Childhelp on behalf of Pinner, click here.
It’s well known to her family, friends and coworkers that when Pinner makes a plan, she sticks to it. The writer and running mom knows how to overcome mental barriers, heeding the training advice given to her by her high-school cross country coach: “90 percent mental and 10 percent physical.”
However, because of long runs and cross-training, the physical part of the job has been particularly taxing to her body, and with the Boston Marathon right around the corner, Pinner says that her main goal right now is simply to remain injury-free. Fortunately for Pinner, Isagenix offers products that can support her, as well as others, in attaining these ambitions.
Exercise builds the body up by first breaking it down. Endurance activities, such as running marathons, require months or even years of hard work in anticipation for a big event. What we eat not only plays a role in powering our bodies and fueling our workouts, but also in aiding recovery. Here are a few nutritional tips, with help from Isagenix products, for use in training.
1. Hydration, hydration, hydration.
With exercise, the body produces heat. The body actively works to reduce temperature and cool itself by pushing heat to the surface to be released as sweat. Endurance activities not only cause loss of body water through sweat, but also can reduce the thirst response. When dehydration occurs, the body’s cooling mechanism shuts down, which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Also, neuromuscular activity decreases, which can affect the rate and strength of muscle contractions, leading to shortened endurance.
Drinking fluids should not be a response, but a routine. For pre-event hydration, drink between 18 to 24 ounces of water two hours before an event, and an additional 18 to 24 ounces 15 to 20 minutes prior to the start of the event. Make a point of avoiding alcohol, coffee, or carbonated drinks prior to a race, as these beverages may contribute to dehydration due to their diuretic properties. During the event, drink between 6 and 10 ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes. Adequate fluid intake must be a priority, to both replace and replenish lost water and electrolytes. Caution: Be sure to not overhydrate. Hyponatremia is common in marathoners, especially women.
Drinking the right sports drink can enhance hydration and running performance.
Sports drinks such as Want More Energy?® will help replenish carbohydrate stores and also replace lost electrolytes. Additionally, it helps to speed up gastric emptying and increase absorption. For post-event hydration, allow the body time to cool down and heart rate to normalize before rehydrating. An athlete should be sure to check weight before and after a run to drink enough fluid to restore body weight; it’s suggested to drink 16 oz of fluid for every pound of body weight lost. Hydration is a priority for any serious athlete; hydrate before, hydrate during and hydrate after!
2. Don’t curb the carbs
A balanced diet is pivotal for adequate energy and nutrient availability. Carbohydrates are the preferred energy source for the body. During periods of intense exercise, the body uses glucose and its stored form, glycogen, to fuel the muscles. The exhaustion or fatigue experienced following intense activity results from burning up these energy stores. Eating enough complex carbohydrates before an event helps enhance performance by maximizing muscle and liver glycogen stores, improving stamina and reducing exercise-induced fatigue.
Carbohydrates consumed during exercise will help maintain blood glucose and enhance carbohydrate oxidation. Drinking fluids with a few grams of simple sugars like Want More Energy? throughout the event can help preserve glycogen stores and help runners maintain energy levels.
Consuming carbohydrates post exercise is also important as it replenishes depleted glycogen stores. Simple carbohydrates, in particular, can help restore glycogen stores more effectively. Glycogen repletion occurs faster immediately after exercise, so it is recommended to consume 1.5 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight post-event every two hours for up to 6 hours.
3. Pre-game with principle.
It’s important to power your activity without weighing yourself down. Eating too close to the big event can cause uncomfortable bloating, lethargy or even pain. An appropriate pre-game meal should be high in complex carbohydrates and consumed three to four hours before the race begins, which will allow the body to completely digest and store the carbohydrates, eliminate any fats consumed and stabilize blood sugar. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of an athlete’s pre-game calories should be composed of complex carbohydrates to help improve performance and sustain energy levels. Fatty and fibrous foods should be avoided right before extensive periods of activity to avoid gastric distress.
Athletes training for prolonged endurance events should consume 9 to 10 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight to help support glycogen stores. Many endurance athletes practice a method known as “carb-loading,” which is a strategy used to maximize glycogen storage in the muscles by consuming large amounts of carbohydrates, along with extra water, a few days prior to the event. Isagenix SlimCakes provide a healthy dose of low-glycemic complex carbohydrates, promote satiety and supplement glycogen stores. In addition, foods such whole-grain pasta, whole-wheat breads, and whole oats provide low-glycemic carbohydrates that can not only increase glycogen storage capacity, but also improve performance by delaying the time at which carbohydrate reserves become depleted.
4. Whey to replenish.
Running a marathon puts incredible strain on the body and literally depletes nutrient stores. Protein is required to help rebuild muscle and repair tissues that are broken down from repetitive movements. Eating a complete meal containing protein, carbohydrates and fats is more beneficial for post exercise recovery compared to a meal containing carbohydrates alone. Evidence shows that combining protein with carbohydrates increases the rate of post-exercise glycogen synthesis. IsaLean Shakes or Bars are a great products marathon runners can take advantage of during training and after their event as they provide vital nutrients, such as whey protein (an excellent source of branched-chain amino acids that fuel muscle growth and maintenance), as well as carbohydrates. If providing the structural support for muscle repair and staving off fatigue are not enough, the IsaLean Shakes also deliver vitamins and minerals, including valuable electrolytes. (Jennifer is a big fan of the shakes and had a natural creamy chocolate one right after her last marathon in December.)
5. Manage muscle and joint discomfort naturally
A combination of ingredients can help runners keep joint discomfort to a minimum.
Intense physical activity of any kind is likely to result in suffering through muscle and joint stiffness and discomfort. Maintaining a normal weight, light stretching before an event, and proper training all go far in helping to avoid overtaxing muscles and joints. So can providing the body with scientifically-supported ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, boswellia and turmeric to help support production of healthy cartilage while inhibiting its loss over time.
Glucosamine is a major component of the proteoglycans, the natural “building blocks” of cartilage. The body’s production of proteoglycans declines with age, but glucosamine supplementation helps restore production and maintain healthy cartilage over time. Chondroitin is a natural compound that helps maintain joint lubrication, allowing for greater joint mobility and flexibility. Supplementation with chondroitin sulfate provides support to glucosamine in helping to slow joint deterioration. Comforting botanicals such as boswellia and turmeric act to soothe and calm discomfort.
Isagenix Ageless Joint Support provides all these ingredients along with several others providing combination to support healthy cartilage, promote production of new cartilage, and soothe joint flare-ups before or after they start. “It calls for three tablets daily, but its formulator Dr. Paul Anderson has recommended 6 daily if you’ve had issues. Amazing results!” Pinner writes in a blog post, giving tips to aspiring runners.
When pain does take hold in muscles and joints, Ageless Pain Relief topical cream alleviates using no artificial ingredients or drugs—only natural menthol and methyl salicylate. The ingredients provide a cooling sensation when first applied followed by a deeper heat that can relax sore, tense muscles and relieve stiff, aching joints. “Right after a run, if I have even the slightest ache, I put a tiny dollop on the hot spot, do a little rub and compress it with a wash cloth to feel that cooling/warming sensation on my joint,” Pinner writes.
The Finish Line
Whether you’re a recreational runner or a seasoned athlete looking toward the next 26.2 miles, what’s important is maintaining energy and preventing injury. Consuming enough carbohydrates to fuel your run and enough protein to support the growth, maintenance and repair of body tissues, is a delicate balance that requires attention and quality ingredients to ensure a successful race.
As for Jennifer, we wish her good luck and good health!