by Jess Evans
May 26, 2018
Staying properly fueled throughout the duration of a race is very important. I have seen many strategies through the years, some racers relying heavily on sugar, some relying heavily on energy bars and gels, some relying heavily on liquid calories, and others needing “real” food to get through. I am the in the “real” food category.
Although real food may be heavier than some of the other options, feeling energized enough to keep going is necessary. In the beginning, I did not understand this need, but I quickly learned how much food and what types of foods I needed during a race. If you feel low on energy, it is nearly impossible to convince yourself to move on. If you feel cold, you want to curl up on the ground and not move. If you feel dizzy, it takes all your strength to put one foot in front of the other. Food intake helps with all of these situations and more.
I have tried gels and bars, but I found early on that I relished real food while burning lots of calories. Unfortunately, a few years ago, I started getting acid reflux with nearly every bite I took while racing at night. I discovered that I have food allergies. I had to start modifying the real food I ate during a race. I could no longer buy frozen burritos from the frozen food section and munch on those during a race. I could not buy McDonald cheese burgers to indulge in at the TA, although I have heard that they are great and last several days (not sure if that is a good thing).
Now I bring homemade foods to sustain myself. One of the primary foods I must stay away from is soy beans – and soy is in nearly everything. Luckily there is soy free chocolate – YEEHAW! I can pack nuts with cranberries, as long as the nuts are not processed in a plant with soy, which is hard to find. I eat homemade beef jerky, biscuits, and cookies. I would like to try the lintel burritos, but have not ventured in that direction yet. I can also eat some fruit and nut bars, which I will pack for a quick snack. My protein is “chicken in a pouch” which can be eaten with well soaked rice noodles. The downside is I have been told my food selection is a bit “hippy-ish”.
I often say that eating and sleeping are two of my favorite things to do. They are definitely a highlight of an adventure race. If you have great food that excites and energizes you, you will get through your race in much better spirits.
