Jamie

Personal Background

Jamie, a 35-year-old male marathon runner, suffered from terrible stomach cramping at mile seven during two consecutive marathons. He needed to withdraw each time.

Prescribed Program

After listening to a description of Jamie’s symptoms, the Phase IV Registered Dietitian took a detailed look at what Jamie was eating before and during the marathons. It turned out the sport drinks he was consuming were too high in sugar to let his body absorb any of the nutrients (including water). The stress from the heat and the anxiety of racing made it even more difficult to tolerate these foods and drinks. As a result, Jamie was getting stomach cramps and the runs, which were dehydrating him.

We reviewed Jamie’s diet and gave him a detailed menu with specific times to follow the nights preceding his races, as well as the morning before. He was also supplied with a mile-by-mile list of how to fuel throughout the race. This list detailed the brand name and type of food, the quantity to consume (including how much to drink every 30 minutes) and what foods/supplements to pick up at every aid station.

FUEL Nutrition Counseling

Jamie worked with the RD through a personalized dietary analysis for macro and micronutrients. These were determined in order to adjust his diet and solve the cramping (due to dehydration) issues in order to maximize his performance and properly fuel him throughout the day.

Results

Before Jamie’s next marathon, he practiced using the prescribed foods to make sure they were well tolerated. Then, on race day the plan worked like a charm and he set a new personal record.