The Barefoot Running Book - Jason Robillard [40]
I was skeptical of this concoction until forced to try it during the 2009 Hallucination 100-mile run (find the details in the race report later in the book). Since that run I have experimented with various methods to ingest chia while running. At one point in my research, my friends Andy Grosvenor and Kate Kift even suggested using wine instead of water as a liquid base for the iskiate.
In May of 2010, I actually tried this combination for the Mind the Ducks 12-hour ultramarathon in Rochester, New York. Due to New York’s liquor laws, I was only able to procure
Mike’s Hard Lemonade which is a carbonated malt beverage with a slight lemon taste.
Throughout that race, I used a combination of Mike’s and chia to maintain adequate caloric intake by pouring about two ounces of Mike’s into a cup and adding a scoop of chia seeds then immediately consuming it. I did this about once an hour.
The use of a small amount of alcohol during a long run is very controversial and not something I recommend others try. I just wanted to report that during that run it gave me some positive benefits.
Diet and Race Food
Along with questions about iskiate, people often ask about my diet. My diet can be summed up with two terms: variety and moderation.
I try to eat many different foods. When shopping at the grocery store, I use a simple guideline of buying foods found around the perimeter of the store and in a variety of colors. Food found around the perimeter of most stores will be fresh since fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and breads are found in these areas. The middle aisles of most stores contain processed foods such as canned vegetables, cookies, and potted meat. Anything that is prepared via the “potted” method is less healthy.
I am also a food realist. As much as I would like to claim to adhere to a healthy diet, that would be a facade. I like food—including that which is healthy and that which is not. When I have an urge to eat I will usually indulge, though moderation is important when satisfying these urges. When eating something unhealthy, I will try limiting that portion to a size no larger than my fist. For me it is a simple but direct method of portion control.
I also look for patterns when I tend to overeat. For example, I tend to be an emotional eater. If I am experiencing an unusual level of stress, I have a tendency to overeat. It is also something I’ll do when I’m bored. For me the trick to preventing or minimizing overeating is to understand, predict, and correct the triggers that cause the behavior. When I keep myself busy, drink water, and exercise, it greatly limits my own overeating.
While racing, I tend to favor high-calorie whole foods and shy away from the engineered foods some runners use, such as gels. Through experimentation, I’ve found foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and donuts work well. While it is not a popular strategy, it works for me. During longer runs, the sweetness of most gels is unpalatable and whole foods are much easier to consume.
Bad Runs
A “bad run” is any run where something does not feel “right” and manifests itself in a variety of ways. You may feel fatigued or your feet and legs may seem unusually heavy. Other symptoms may include sleepiness or a variety of dull pains throughout your body.
Runners, as if following an unwritten rule, do not talk about bad runs. When I began running, it was my assumption that I was the only person who experienced bad runs, as other runners would gush over how wonderful each and every step felt. It was as if I was the only runner that didn’t experience the “muffins wrapped in rainbows” runs everyone else apparently experienced.
Oddly, my wife Shelly and I didn’t talk about our experiences with bad runs for years. Perhaps we became adept at sensing when the other was having a bad