Stay focused

It is easy to lose your focus. And then it takes an extra effort to gain it back. 

Before my 240 km race I was entirely focused on the task ahead of me. Weeks before that I stopped eating any bread, sweets or cheese (these are my trigger foods) and I also stopped destroying my body by any bulimic behaviours. It paid off. I not only did finish the race but placed myself on a podium. This was just amazing! Two weeks after that I went for a local 100-miler. I shouldn't have done that. My body was screaming not to but my ambitions were greater. I should have listened to my body but I didn't. As a result I was running the first 20 km, then jogging next 10 km and then dying for further 70 km, until I decided that 100 km is all I could do that day. I don't have any regrets of pulling out of that race. I couldn't even jog anymore (tired, my blisters re-opened, knee started to hurt) so what was the point?! Only then I realised what I have completed just two weeks before and how this affected me. I needed a rest. And so I decided I will not run for the next two weeks and will also go easy on myself  with eating. For two weeks I only went few times for a walk or to the gym and allowed myself to eat some bread and sweets, and twice even cheese. I am not proud of this, but sort of needed that as well. Maybe not physically but mentally - just to have a BREAK from everything. 

Two weeks have passed and I came back to my running and clean eating routine. I have learned that after next ultra I should take some rest from running but not from my good, clean diet. It took me three days to get back on track and I feel my body is still not fully adjusted to eating fruits, vegs and grains only. 

It was quite easy to lose this focus on what I am eating for the 14 days. First it felt a bit weird to eat a sandwich or nutella, but then it got really easy. The point is there was no real need to suspend my clean eating in the first place. I will never do it again. 

So here are some tips on how to get back on a track. Whatever your goal is and whatever setback you are facing: 

1. Have honest conversation with yourself what are your goals and why you want to achieve these. 
2. Make a new plan for yourself starting from TODAY. 
3. Forget the past mistakes and forgive yourself. You won't be able to focus on the future while still looking back. 

I did these things 3 days ago and I am getting my focus back. To make it easier for myself i signed up for the next race that will be in a few weeks time. Not to compete, I know I will do it just to enjoy some trails, but to keep myself on a track. 

Stay focused. Stay strong. 

Fruits vs energy gels

I never liked the idea of taking energy gels. I didn't listen to all these commercials telling you that you have to take one every 40-50 minutes, or forget running a marathon. I tried once and my stomach suffered a lot. Then somebody told me I need to take these during my training long runs so that my stomach can adjust. I thought about it and I came to a conclusion that if my body doesn't accept this it means it cannot be good for you. Since then I don't eat anything during a marathon. I can easily run few hours without food. I only need to make sure I drink enough (and usually take some isotonic drink half way).

But running ultras is a different story. Here it is so important how often you eat and what you take in. I did many races where I didn't care much about nutrition. All I cared about was how do I look on the race day. So 2-3 weeks before the race I used to starve myself to look good. I felt like crap but at least I was 6-8 pounds lighter. When the race started I usually was going quite well for the first half and dying the second one, only trying to survive to the end. I used to go on chocolate bars, rolls with cheese and coke. No wonder I was feeling and performing bad. Few times I didn't finish because my body refused to go any further and then I was peeing blood every few minutes in a burning pain.

This was so stupid.

Since I decided to make a turn in my life and watch what I am actually eating my nutrition during long runs and races consists of fruit pouches, bananas, watermelons, oat bars, water and - if going more than 50 miles - isotonics. Sometimes red bull but only when I have troubles to stay awake overnight. But I try to avoid this as I know this is really bad for your system.

Here I want to share my thoughts on fruit pouches that I found a great and healthy alternative to energy gels. Even my husband, who does triathlons,  gave it a try and he decided to switch to these as well.

Ingredients of an average energy gel: 24,1 g of carbs, of which 16,3 g is sugar. salt 0,39g, protein 0 g, fat 0 g. Total weight: 50g, Calories: 100.

Ingredients of a fruit pouch: 19 g carbs, of which 18g sugars, salt 0,03 g, protein 0,09 g, fat 0g, fibre 1,9 g. Total weight: 100g, Calories: 100.

The difference is in a type of sugar mainly. I don't need to explain that fructose is much more healthy than artificial sugars put into energy gels. And you don't have these sugar highs and lows, once you eat these regularly during race you feel fine all the time. 

The only disadvantage I can see is weight. Fruit pouches are twice heavier. But in long races usually you have points where you can leave your drop bags. So you can plan how many of these you will take with you for each stage of the race. It also depends what else is provided on the check points. If they have bananas, oranges or any other fruits - you can take less of these pouches and mix with the whole fruits.

At the end everybody chooses what works for them. I found these little pouches very energizing, refreshing and handy. If you are looking for some healthy options then give it a try on your next long run.

Enjoy :)