This is the first installment of several detailing potential
gastronomical plans for my upcoming Marathon de Sables. Today I will tackle what I term “on the move
food” or what I plan to consume while running/walking. I have previously touched upon basics of calorie
counts and will be shooting for an average of around 2800 kcals/day. Of this amount, breakfast and evening
offerings will contribute approximately 1400 kcals total leaving another 1400 kcals for consumption during the day. I
will vary from these amounts depending upon the stage. The long stage will have additional on the
move calories and less evening fare, while the rest day will be reversed.
I am fortunate to be able to ingest food during exercise
with few ill effects so long as I don't over indulge! For me taste,
convenience and form are the important criteria for the evaluation of trail
food. Taste is obvious, if you don’t
like it you will not choke it down. It
has to be convenient also; no long preparation times, excess packaging, and difficulties
with handling. Finally there is form, is
it moist enough and easy to chew? Will
it disintegrate into crumbs? The following meet my above criteria and represent a typical
days worth of “on the move food”:
·
Smoked Almonds: 2 oz a day/340 kcals
These are good and easy to eat.
Most any other nut will suffice
·
Slim Jims: 2 oz a day/320 kcals
Nice treat, easily packed. Suggest
only original and mild flavors.
·
Various gels:
1 oz (1 each)/100 kcals
Leaning to ones that are not viscous (Power Bar brand)
·
Various energy bars: 2.2-3.0 oz (1 each)/230-390 kcals
o
Cliff Bar Chocolate/Apricot/Cool Mint: All of these are OK but somewhat dry.
o
Pro Bar: Looking into these.
o
Hammer Nutrition Cranberry: Love these but on the low calorie end.
o
Hammer Nutrition Almond Raisin: Very good
o
Power Bar
Triple protein (may melt)
·
Stinger Waffles: 1 oz (1 each)/160 kcals
I love these, easy to eat and slightly sweet. Fragile and can be reduced to crumbs.
·
Electrolyte tabs: 0.6 oz (2-4 tablets)/0 kcals
These are in addition to SaltSticks or Endurolytes, mainly bringing to
flavor the water. I usually use these at
half strength
·
GU Brew recovery 2.1 oz (1 each)/250 kcal
Slam
when I get done with the stage, chocolate.
I believe this menu will serve me well by offering the
variety and nutrition necessary for the long days of exertion. A hearty breakfast and dinner will round out
the culinary adventure. These remaining
two areas will be covered in the near future!
