With just days to go until the Virgin Money London Marathon, now is the time to plan your marathon fuelling and hydration strategy. Worried about hitting the wall? Wondering whether to carb-load? Or how much water to drink during the race? Well, having a good fuelling plan will help you avoid the common marathon pitfalls….
While a healthy diet is central to optimal performance, for some athletes the quest to eat only the ‘right’ foods can morph into orthorexia, an unhealthy fixation with ‘eating correctly’. What starts as a health kick or desire to shed surplus pounds can spiral into obsessive behaviour. One recent study suggests that as many as…
It’s probably not something you often think about but the trillions of microbes that reside in your gut have a huge impact on many aspects of your health, including your sporting performance. These bacteria, yeasts, fungi and viruses release chemicals that influence your weight, immunity, cardiovascular system, mental health and your susceptibility to acne, allergies…
If you train outdoors during winter, you’re putting your body under extra stress so you’ll benefit from a good fuelling plan. By building some healthy eating habits now you will ensure you’re fit and ready for the dark months of training ahead. Winter endurance training demands a lot of energy from your body and it’s…
17th February 2016 One of the most frequent questions I get asked by runners after a talk is how to prevent or cope with gastro-intestinal (GI) problems and transit troubles during training and races. It’s not an issue many like to talk about openly but it’s one that’s surprisingly common among endurance athletes. It…
Winter is a time when we’re more susceptible to bugs and illnesses. And there’s nothing more frustrating for athletes than missing training due to a cold or flu. Here’s how to fend off this season’s colds by getting your defenses into top gear. The irony is that, while regular exercise boosts your immune system, intense…
– How to adjust your diet to keep up with your age Are you finding it harder to hit your PBs, exercise as hard or as long as you once did, or make substantial gains in the gym? Well, that’s perfectly normal! As we go through our 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, our bodies…
One of the most common questions I get asked by runners is how to fuel during long runs when you don’t feel like eating anything. Many find that drinking a sports drink or eating food makes them feel like throwing it straight back up. Do you also struggle fuelling during races? Well, you’re not…
More than ever, young high performance athletes I advise are keen to give protein supplements a try. After all protein products are everywhere – in local shops, sports centres and cafes – and so widely promoted that it’s hard to believe that anyone isn’t taking them. Will they make me stronger, help me…
