A NECISSARY PICK ME UP

It has been stressed to the team by our trainers, Eric & Jeff, that as the miles increase the runners must take in extra calories along with our hydration fluid. Water will not suffice as a fluid during the long runs as our bodies require replacement of electrolytes, potassium, sodium, and additional calories. Sports drinks are a great resource. For me though, the more of my Gatorade recipe with 1/2 Gatorade-1/2 water, and table salt still adds quite a bit of sugar because of the higher volume of liquid I need for the long training runs.

The sugar will accelerate my digestion process and cause me to frequent the bathroom more often. I want to reduce the bathroom breaks as best possible. The best way to combat the need to go is to change my strategy for my hydration fluid. After many taste tests and trail runs.   I have decided to change to the ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) packets. ORS has the perfect combination of what I need to stay properly hydrated, without the flavoring and added sugar that comes with the sports drinks.

For the calorie replacement foods that include a combination of ingredients that provide a boost of energy while running, there is much to choose from, for the healthy distance runner that is. The two running stores near me, that I’ve become a recent regular at, carries a huge array of energy foods. Most of these food choices come in smaller packaging so that you can carry it on you during your activity. Be it running, walking, biking, hiking, etc…. Most of these foods have a good amount of sugar for energy. I found that most of the Energy Bars have nuts of some sort as one of the key ingredients. This is a great food source for energy, and calorie replacement as the nuts are high in calories due to the fat content. The nuts are also a great source of protein.

BUT, For the Crohn’s patient with short gut, the Energy Bars are not the best choice. You see, nuts are my enemy. They do not digest well, if at all. If there is any narrowing or scar tissue in what’s left of my intestinal anatomy, and I don’t chew the nuts up well enough, then I could be in big trouble. Worst case scenario, the nuts could cause another blockage. I won’t take that chance.

Here are some alternatives to the higher calorie foods.

1) Power Bar – This energy bar does have some nuts in some of the flavor options, but for the most part, they are ground up extremely fine and I don’t see them as a problem food choice. I eat half a bar at a time to avoid too much intake at one time. This brand is a great resource.

2)  Sport Beans – This is a dense, high energy food that looks like jelly beans. These “jelly beans” are a combination of carbs, electrolytes, and vitamins. They are all natural. Stacey, and Bailey like this food choice.  The package is small enough to keep on you while you run.

3) Clif Shot Blocks – Another dense, high energy food that is also high calorie. They are a natural boost of energy in the form of an 1″x1″x1″ block. It looks like a candy bar that you can break off six individual squares. They taste like “gummy bears”. I like this food. The natural flavors are great.

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