Hydration & Nutrition
Trail Running
The remoteness of trail running means that you need to take whatever food and water supplies you may need with you. You are unlikely to come across anywhere to buy it out on the trails.
Official events may have food and drink stations, however a lot are now becoming ‘cup free’ so you will need to provide your own drinking vessel.
The type and amount of nutrition and hydration you will need for a run is a personal preference and depends on the distance and duration. There is no one size fits all so it’s important to test things out.
Learn what works and doesn’t work for you to fine tune your approach.
Food food glorious food
There are many ways to keep your energy levels up on the run; real food, bars, gels and chews, and powders you add to water.
Think about taking small bags with you for carrying your food and collecting your rubbish, there is nothing worse than a squashed banana at the bottom of your pack or sticky gel packet in your pockets.
Whatever you choose ensure you take all your rubbish home, leaving nothing behind but your footprints. No one wants to find packaging littering the trails.
And on that note, if you do see litter on the trails please pick it up, you’ll feel great doing it.
Without water we cannot survive
There are lots of different options for carrying water; hand held bottles, hydration belts, soft bottles and/or bladder in a running vest/pack. And there are pros and cons to each of these options.
If you choose to use a bladder THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO KNOW.
When you fill it make sure you remove all the air from it to avoid the water sloshing around annoying you and everyone else nearby as you run.
My go to favourites
I use a variety of nutrition and hydration options dependent on the run.
For shorter runs I can often be found with just my Salomon or Nathan soft water bottles. And for longer runs a hydration vest with bladder and soft bottles options.
My food options include homemade protein balls, dates, cliff bars, Hammer Vegan Bars and V fuel. With the addition of peanut butter and banana or vegemite wraps and Tailwind for long distance runs.
I always run with chewing gum and I am known for my love of snakes on the trail. No not those slippery critters that scare the bejeebers out of you, the no artificial colours or flavours jelly kind from The Natural Confectionery Co. But I have strict rules about their use!
Whatever you choose make sure to practice with it before you depend on it during a long run or event. There is nothing worse than getting an upset stomach from a new food or drink or finding your choice of water bottle uncomfortable or difficult to access.
