I began transitioning to more carbohydrates two days before the marathon, while attending the Marathon Race Directors Conference. They provided breakfast items and lunch. Each day I had a sweet roll and orange juice as a morning snack - veering completely off the South Beach Diet. For lunch I avoided the bread on Friday but had a slice on Saturday, and a cookie on Saturday. For dinner on Saturday night I made angelhair pasta with pesto and a grilled chicken breast and salad as my carboloading meal. Somehow I recall some Snickers bars sneaking their way into my life as snacks each day as well.
Walking the Marathon
My breakfast was a Clif bar. Along the 26.2 miles of the marathon, I drank a cup of Powerade and a cup of water of each water stop (approximately every two miles). Not only is the marathon dehydrating, low carb diets contribute to dehydration. It was a wonderful cool day in the 60's (F) so heat was not a factor. But I believe I still did not drink enough.Marathon Energy: The body needs carbohydrates during the marathon. Runners cannot absorb them from the gut fast enough to use them, which is why they "Hit the Wall" at mile 20 and completely run out of cellular fuel. But walkers can absorb new energy during the marathon since they are out there long enough. I used the Powerade as my main source of carbohydrates, but also at Mile 13 I began to eat a Clif bar that included caffeine. I really felt the effects, it really energized me at a point where I was hurting and tired. I completed eating the bar at Mile 18. In the last 3 miles I opened a second bar and took a few bites. Rachel - Will - Nancy - Wendy at Mile 20
Finishing the Marathon: My last 3 miles this were the strongest I have felt for my four marathons. I can't say why, since I had a break in my training and wasn't getting in long miles the past 3 months due to my overuse injury. But something clicked and I actually felt strong and good those last miles, and they went by really quickly rather than being the psychological test of sheer will they usually are. The cooler weather was perhaps a big factor. At the end of the marathon, I went down the food row and ate a couple of Oreos, got a full bottle of Powerade, and grabbed a bag of chips. Nothing else looked good to me - they had fruit, frozen juice bars, etc. I regrouped with the three other members of my walking team, took photos. Nancy - Wendy - Rachel at finish. We got a massage and went to my house of a post-marathon Recovery Room. I had a snack mix that everyone enjoyed, I drank a root beer and grilled steak with a baked sweet potato and caesar salad. We had a Weight Watchers recipe key lime pie for dessert, and I had a real beer.
Post-Marathon Week 6
My weight bumped up to 5 pounds over my low weight after the marathon - the effects of the swelling muscles from the trauma of walking so far, plus having carbs I was not used to. It is unwise to weigh yourself after a marathon due to these effects. It is important to keep hydrating and to eat a balanced diet including protein and carbs to aid in the healing and recovery.I had a few "forbidden" treats that I went through after the marathon. Root beer floats. A handful of tortilla chips each day with meals. The snack mix as a snack - it contained peanuts, sesame sticks, crackers. I planned to return to Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet on Wednesday after the marathon.
Net Weight: by 3 days post-marathon my weight was returning down to where it was before the marathon. By 7 days post-marathon it was below the previous weight.
Next: Week 7
