Difference between previous ultras and the one I did yesterday.

I ran 100 km yesterday and this was my first ultra since I switched to clean eating. So what is the difference? Let's go step by step.

1. I felt great and really happy standing on the start line. 
I ate a big bowl of fruits with some chia seeds 2 hours before the race and drank some water. I felt really energetic. This gave me as much calories as pre-race breakfast I used to have but eating fresh, live food will simply give you more than calories intake, it will boost your mood as well.

In the past I would drink a coffee and then eat some rice cakes with peanut butter and jam or porridge with banana and honey - quite heavy stuff on your stomach, no wonder I had problems quite often with going on sides during a race. And even when I didn't I still felt quite heavy.

2. I didn't eat any processed food during the race but ran it on fruits.
During all 13 hours I ate a few bananas, 8 pouches with mashed organic fruits (the ones you can buy for small children), few pieces of oranges, few slices of watermelon and 1 liter of coconut water. I was amazed how good I felt. Although I didn't make a great time I had no energy us and downs - it stayed constant and I felt quite fresh until the end. (I would probably go faster if not the fact my legs were already tired after a hard long mountain run I did previous Saturday. As this race was not my main focus but rather a training run I didn't care much about the time - I'm just saying that it was not the food but other factors). Even after the race I felt good and others actually made comments on how fresh and full of energy I still am.

Comparing to the past - I used to eat rice cakes again with peanut butter, rolls with cheese and coke. And this never worked well in the long distance. This food made me feel sluggish and quite heavy. It didn't give much energy after all despite of large amount of calories. I remember after each race I just wanted to eat something hot and not sweet. Which brings me to another point.

3. Eating after the race.
When I finished I changed my clothes, talked to guys and finally it was time to go back home. I didn't feel much like I wanted to eat anything but this is normal just after a very long run. I waited a bit and then I had two pieces of vegan bars that I made a day before and a banana. Later my husband wanted to pick an ice-cream for himself so we arrived at a tank station. Shelves were packed with everything you shouldn't eat whether you are vegan or not - chocolate bars, crisps, cookies, fizzy drinks - all this stuff that just give you bunch of bad sugars and nothing more. I grabbed only mango smoothie and drank it later before going to sleep.

On the way back my husband also wanted to step in to one of fast food stores in the well known chain of restaurants that he used to work for. Just to see if there is anybody he knows to have a chat. And there was one girl he knew so we sat down for a few minutes. In the past we would go anyway to have a pizza but now it was for social reasons only. I was shivering as after each long race - when tiredness kicks in your immune system is weakened and it is quite normal you feel cold. I ordered a cup of freshly made soup while they were talking. I realized when looking at the menu that there is nothing apart from this soup that I would potentially eat. All other things were just pure fat or sugar. And I actually felt good about this. This means that went far enough not to crave any fries, veggie burgers or pizza. This cup of soup was enough to warm me up.

4. A day after.
Well, I feel my legs are tired but overall I feel great. I drink as much water as I possible can to flush out of my body all toxins that are created from muscles fatigue. I would actually go for a run if not few blisters that I want to sort first. But surely I will go to a swimming pool this afternoon.
Which is another difference as in the past I was simply dying after long race. Not really wanting to do anything. And very often eating a lot of junk food and sweets to "award" myself. And such food obviously made all the matters worse. I don't crave these anymore. I feel great and want this to stay that way.

And I'm going now to treat myself witch smoothie that I will make from mangoes, bananas, spinach and fresh orange juice.

EAT CLEAN.  IT REALLY WORKS.

Pami.