runDisney Training Tips with AdventHealth: Nutrition 101

CH’EARS to kicking off your training! Whether you’re a first-time runner or someone interested in getting better at the sport, training is an important part of any runner’s success. From what you eat, how you warm-up and cool down to everything in between, there are many factors to help you perform your absolute best. We’re excited to share with you helpful tips for your training journey provided by AdventHealth, the Official Medical Provider of runDisney.

First up? A basic lesson in nutrition! As an athlete, you need to fuel your body to perform its best. But despite what you may hear, this is probably less complicated than you expect.

While the details of what is considered “healthy” eating may be a little unclear for many, the benefits make sense: you’ll feel stronger, stay energized, train more successfully, and recover more quickly. To be able to do this, you need to fuel like a runner. First, we’ll address some of the general concepts:

• Keep It Simple: Above all else, eating healthy does not have to be complicated. Counting calories, calculating exact percentages of macronutrients.

  • Sherri Flynt, a nutritionist with AdventHealth, agrees. “If runners can meet their energy needs, then they don’t need a formal diet. You meet your nutrition needs better when you eat all food groups.”

• Eat Like a Runner*:* While Paleo and low carb diets are all the rage, if you’re a runner you need to remember that carbohydrates are your friend. This doesn’t mean you should indulge in pizza and candy for every meal! But carbohydrates are the body’s primary fuel source, especially as workouts become more intense, so they’re an important part of your diet.

• Don’t Aim For Perfection: Nobody can eat perfectly 100% of the time. It’s unrealistic. Small indulgences like chocolate or a piece of cake are perfectly acceptable. Try to keep your house stocked with healthy options so that they are your primary fuel source, but always allow yourself the opportunity to find pleasure in food.

Read the rest of the their recommended general principles for nutrition and how to fuel your workouts on AdventHealth’s blog along with other great health and wellness content perfect for the runner-in-training.

What are some of your favorite ways to fuel up for training miles? Share with us in social using #runDisney in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.