As someone who has been involved in sport from a very young age, I have come to learn just how important it is to fuel your body with the right foods for optimal performance. I am a middle/long distance runner, with my favorite event being the 5000m (12 and a half laps of an athletics track- I’m a bit crazy I know!). As a result, my energy needs are pretty high to fuel both the volume and intensity of my training.
A typical training week for me includes 3 running sessions of around 16km, 2-3 easy runs (anywhere from 15-22kms), 3 gym sessions and 3-4 easy swims for recovery. As running is such a high-impact sport, it is really important for me to ensure that I include adequate amounts of protein and calcium in my diet, as this helps to support muscle repair and bone strength. Below is a rundown of how I might fuel a typical training day.