Have you thought about changing your diet to improve running?
HAVE you ever thought about changing your diet to improve your running. Last summer Stubbington's Andy Lee decided to dramatically alter his diet after his wife and eldest son were forced to change theirs because of a medical condition.
The diet has worked wonders, and through lots of hard training this winter, Andy's times have improved considerably. At the recent Chichester 10km race, his time improved by three minutes on 12 months ago. Here, Andy writes about the secret of that success.
IF your times have significantly decreased it could be more than advancing years or lack of training, an incorrect diet or food intolerance could be the reason.
Last June, both my wife Jennie and eldest son John were diagnosed with coeliac condition, an allergy to gluten and wheat. This reduces the absorption of foods and therefore nutrients leading to susceptibility to viruses and general tiredness. My youngest son James was already allergic to dairy, eggs and nuts.
The need to re-plan the family diet, and similarity because of the symptoms to Jennie and John, that persuaded me to seek a blood test. Previously I had ignored my tiredness, bloated stomach, weight increase and "feeling better" when I did eat less wheat.
Blood tests showed only sensitivity to wheat rather than an allergy. Yet the need for a common diet and availability of wheat free bread and pasta, led me to cut out 99% of wheat. No shop bread, cakes, biscuits, pizza, pastry or carbo-loading with beer the night before a race.
Instead, this brave new world consisted of wheat-free bread from supermarkets, Boots or home-made bread. My diet consisted of rice, wheat-free pasta with pesto sauce, baked potatoes - white or sweet - plus lots of fruit and vegetables, washed down with good quality cider or Gales wine.
These dietary changes resulted in an immediate positive "feel good" factor and 10lb weight loss within three months. Together with a move to a chiropractioner at "Back to Health" in Waterlooville, who actually promised and delivered an improvement to a bad back and tight hamstrings, that gave me the enthusiasm to put the effort in during training.
My programme is still basically one-hour off-road at the weekend, a slow three mile jog on a Monday morning, the Thursday club session, which is supplemented with a 4 mile weekend walk.
Yet within 6 months, the 10k times reduced from 45 minutes plus to sub 42 minutes and my Today's Runner Cross Country League rankings improved by betwen 20 and 25 places. Whilst this is unlikely to herald a return to sub-40 minutes 10kms which I was running when I was a mere senior, it is a marked improvement for no more time spent training.
The catalyst to feeling better and enjoy running again was the change of diet. Then it was about the extra effort during hill/speed work or the additional session, and all this happened because the body and mind are back in balance.
So if your running is stuck on a plateau or on downward spiral and you lack the normal zest at work or home, try a change of diet. I still eat chocolate, fish and chips, and drink the occasional beer.
Anyone wanting more details on a wheat-free diet, feel free to phone 01329 237550 or e-mail andyandjennie@lee-family.co.uk .