Avoiding Triggers in My Running Fuel

Y’all, this Great Food Experiment combined with 55k training has been tough!

{On the bright side, hitting my daily steps on my vívofit is not tough when I have a long run scheduled!}

For most trail and ultra runners, I’ve heard that aid stations are the highlight of the course. Not only do you get to see smiling faces and cozy chairs, but the food is glorious! Quesadillas, chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, pb&j sandwiches, Nutella, tomato soup, gummy bears, bean burritos, potato chips, Rice Crispy treats, Oreos and pretzels are just a few of the delightful snacks that I’ve seen at these stations.

Too bad I can barely eat half of those snacks!

As I continue to navigate this mysterious world known as “What Heather Can Eat,” I’m sadly amazed at how many different foods and food ingredients aggravate my inflamed lungs. And as you can imagine, this inflammation is ten times more irritating when I’m running and huffing and puffing. I’ve learned the hard way that some of my ol’ favorite running/trail snacks have been cut from the list, and I realize that the majority of the foods on the Antelope Canyon course will likely be off limits. As a result, I’ve been painstakingly experimenting with snacks, trying to identify what satisfies my nutritional needs while on trail while keeping the lung inflammation at minimum. And, did I mention that I really don’t want to spend $5 million?! So, to Whole Foods I went to do a little exploring.

Here are some of my favorites that keep me going through the miles {along with Serial, the podcast, of course!}

Honey Stingers Gels and Chews

Back in the day, the Honey Stinger waffles were my jam. I love the taste of those things and I used to dip them in coffee for a trailside breakfast. Sadly, my lungs strongly dislike these delightful waffles so they got cut. However, the gels and chews work swimmingly and I’ve experienced zero lung issues while eating them.

Both the gels and chews are organic and use organic honey and organic tapioca syrup, which may be an aide for my weak little pulmonary system. Did I mention they’re kind of yummy too?

Of course, I can only handle gels and chews for so long while I’m out running. After awhile, you want something different, amiright?!

WhollyBites

These charming bites of goodness were recently introduced to my food repertoire and I immediately fell in food-love with the Apricot Pecan flavor. They’re totally Paleo which means the ingredients are all easy to pronounce–organic coconut flakes, almonds, pecans, hemp or flax–but they are also easy on my system. They’re offered in a few flavors like Cacao Nib, Sweet Curry and Ginger Snap, but I’m telling you. Go with the Apricot Pecan!

The small clusters are easy to eat while running because you can throw a handful in a ziploc baggie and then graze while you’re on the move. The downside: of the group, these suckers are expensive!

LaraBars

What can I say about LaraBars? Love, love, LOVE them!

Again, LaraBars have easily recognizable ingredients which typically means they play nicely with my system. I also like bars in general while running. Each bar is around 200 calories, so I’ll eat half a bar every 45 minutes and then stash the second half in a pocket in my Jenny vest. No mess and easy to eat while on the move!

They have four zillion flavors available and I haven’t been able to try them all. Lately, I’ve been drawn to the fruitier flavors: Key Lime Pie, Lemon Bar, Blueberry Muffin, Cherry Pie and Coconut Cream Pie. I try to carry a few different flavors during my long run so I can liven things up for the taste buds!

Justin’s Nut Butter

I ask you: who doesn’t love these?!

Since I can’t indulge in Nutella these days, I’ve veered sideways into the deep end of a vat of Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut butter. And trust me: I could eat it for days!

Truthfully, my favorite part about these butters is that you can buy them in the smaller, 1.15 oz squeeze packs. I always throw a few of these in my running pack since they are so small and lightweight but super calorie dense. Again, the Chocolate Hazelnut butter is my favorite, but the Vanilla Almond Butter is a close second. And, because they’re obviously mushy, my intestine handle them fairly well when I’m two hours deep into a long run!

Coconut Water

Oddly enough, coconut water has been a lifesaver during my long runs! I’ve been loading up my bladder with plain water but then filling the two 10-oz bottles with coconut water. I sip on the plain water regularly and then take a swig of coconut water every 15-20 minutes. The stuff is super hydrating, so that’s great, and the electrolyte-replacement is fantastic. Plus, I NEVER cramp up when I’m drinking it!

I’m thinking of adding a bit of coconut water to my bladder with the regular water, just so I can think less and constantly drink chug on the electrolytes. Has anyone tried that before? Would that taste weird?!

This post is sponsored by Garmin and Whole Foods Market as part of their #PathtoFit program. The views and opinions expressed above are my own. As part of this project, I’ll be writing weekly for six weeks on the above goals. If you want to join in on the fun, use the above hashtag on social media to share your upcoming goals!

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 Any additional fuel options that y’all think I should try?