Cross Training Questions
while training for cross country what kind of diet should i be on?
i am going to be training all summer and in the fall, is there any certain types of food i should be eating that will help me, and the foods that will make me go slower. thankss (:
Public Comments
- Training and racing are different disciplines. For racing, you need to avoid things that might slow you down. For example, you want shoes that are light enough to feel like you aren't wearing any; especially in cross-country where their main advantage is grip rather than cushioning. But in training, you can use heavier shoes that protect your feet more. These shoes will make the racing pair feel even lighter, and help to strengthen your legs. Diet works in a similar way. You need to eat really well during training, so that you aren't short of energy, or deficient in any of the vitamins and minerals that you'll need to make use of the energy. Your own body chemistry is unique, so you have some dietary needs that are also unique. You need to find these by trial and error. Some 'runner's diet' tricks will work for you (you can find plenty of these in magazines like 'runner's world'), and some won't. Some of the best are psychological, rather than physically effective. You can use these like superstitions, to 'focus' your effort. The basic need is complex carbohydrate. A good supply of starchy 'staple' foods each day (such as porridge, potatoes or pasta) will keep you fuelled up and ready to go. The balance of these and other food groups will need to change as you move through a 'training to race' cycle, but the details of this evolution are dependent on the results of your own 'trial and error' investigations. Hydration is also important, but it's MOST important while you're NOT training. Many people sip frequently from a road-bottle or camel-pouch while they run, but drink too little during the rest of the day. If you hydrate properly during your 'normal' activities, you'll need very little topping-up while you train. Because you're not diverting energy into your digestive system, that will allow your body to produce better training improvements
