Marathon Training Help

[giricoccola]

I'm training for a marathon and I'm having a terrible time with fatique. Low blood pressure and potassium levels are killing me. Is anyone out there a runner with any help....I was diagnosed 5 months ago and I'm having a really tough time adjusting!

[wschmucks]

I'm training for a marathon and I'm having a terrible time with fatique. Low blood pressure and potassium levels are killing me. Is anyone out there a runner with any help....I was diagnosed 5 months ago and I'm having a really tough time adjusting!

I'm a runner! The biggest thing is going to be your Iron. Female runners have a huge problem with iron because the pounding actullay breaks apart your red blood cells, and having Celiac makes it ever worse. So make sure you eat alot of spinich and I'd try to get as much fresh carrot juice as possibe (you want to have vitamin C with your iron to help with absorbtion). This could be causing the fatigue-- BIG TIME. You could take a supplement if you wanted. SlowFE is gluten free and is a timed release supplement, I wouldnt recommend taking a regular supplement, it should be time released. Other than that, make sure you're eating well/ enough and resting! Happy Marathon!

[LuvMoosic4life]

I am a runner also. I find that having variety in my diet greatly takes away fatigue. If I eat nothing but veggies rice, fruit and chicken I start feeling drained...I found adding stuff like peanut butter and sweet potatoes (2-3 times a week) helps.....they are satifying and leave you fuller longer. I also have low potassium and can feel it when I'm am not eating variety- no fun!

I used to be anemic before knowing I was gluten intolerant...after 5 months gluten free my hemooglobin went up to 13.8....it never got above 11 before....but now I'm just dealing with potassium....dont understand it too much myself...

[IMWalt]

This topic is right up my alley. I am a serious marathoner. I am on a sponsored team and last time I checked I was ranked 17th in the country in my AG.

Right after I first started having GI troubles I had my yearly chekup and my iron-related levels were all much lower than in previous years. I suppose that explained why I was struggling with my training at the time. I had just came back from Iraq, which is were I started having the more severe GI troubles. I decided to start taking a time-release iron supp, and I quickly noticed a big improvement.

I have run 3 marathons under 3 hours since I started eating gluten-free. One thing I think is very important for marathoners to remember, is that you really need the calories. They are your friend if you are putting in 40+ miles a week. So my big advice is to not be afraid of sweets, as long as you know when to eat them. I highly recommend (and most of my friends have started this) having a quart of low-fat chocolate milk after every run of more than 1 hour. After long runs have the chocolate milk (if you can toloerate milk, that is) and then make a nice big breakfast with lots of carbs. gluten-free pancakes or waffles with home-made buttermilk syrup, You want to quickly replenish the glycogen you just depleted. A couple hours later have some protein. If you are a meat eater, have some chicken or beef. I make my own beef sausage and have a couple patties afer a few hours.

As MSAU22 suggests, peanut butter and sweet potatoes are excellent choices. I have sweet-p's a couple times a week and top them with cottage cheese, salsa and shredded cheese of some type. Peanut butter by the spoonful. I also eat lots of nuts of all kinds. When you are training for a marathon you need lots of calories. Don't worry if all of them are not "good for you". Just worry about them being gluten-free.

I travel to a lot of my races, so I have to eat out a lot. The last thing I need before a race is a case of D, but you are usually safe ordering a baked potato or two. I have ordered extras to take to my hotel to eat race morning.

Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you want more training or eating info.

Walt

[giricoccola]

I haven't been taking an iron supplement...mostly potassium, b's, multi, magnesium. Guess I better get on the ball. I've been taking a short break for a few days and I'm going to start back up after the Thanksgiving break so hopefully the iron and food will have a chance to settle in:). Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you all know how the first run is!! Maybe I'll start with a 6-er.

cheers, guys!

[Rya]

Just a note - Ferrous Sulfate is the most easily absorbed form of iron.

Best of luck!!!