![\"Meaghan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/698a29b11b00005a5f6ff29d.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLet\u2019s say you\u2019ve completed a marathon or two, and you\u2019ve decided that you want to take your running to the next level. You decide to try an ultramarathon, such as a 50-mile race or 100-mile one. Or perhaps you\u2019ve enjoyed long bicycle rides and are now considering ultra-distance cycling, races of 125 miles or longer that last six hours or more.<\/p>\n
Now you\u2019ve got to start training your body to handle those kinds of races. But it\u2019s not just about training your muscles. Training for an ultra-endurance sport, which includes ultramarathons and ultra-cycling, means training your stomach, as well. That means training yourself to eat \u2014 and to eat frequently. <\/p>\n
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Courtesy of Meaghan Hackinen<\/p>\n
Meaghan Hackinen shows off a couple of her favorite race foods: Cheetos and a Boston cream doughnut.<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s not just a matter of eating some food during the races (while staying hydrated), it\u2019s also about finding the right food for you while training, during the race and afterward. <\/p>\n
The Science Of Fueling Your Body<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a common refrain from ultra-endurance competitors: Food is fuel. \u201cIf you want to be able to perform during a training run or race, [food is] your body\u2019s fuel. So think of your body like a car. You\u2019re not going to go on this long-distance journey with your gas tank on E. You\u2019re going to start the road trip off with the fuel tank full,\u201d explained Amy Goblirsch<\/a>, a registered dietitian at the Running Dietitian and an ultramarathon runner. <\/p>\n While that may be true for regular sporting events, even a marathon, it\u2019s especially true with ultra-endurance sports. You can probably run a marathon without eating during the race itself; similarly, you can probably do a weight-training session without fueling up during sets. But ultra-endurance competitions mean that you have to eat regularly and eat enough calories to get you through it. That may mean eating every 30 minutes to an hour for the length of the event, which can last eight to 36 hours.<\/p>\n Ashley Paulson<\/a>, an iFit trainer and professional ultrarunner, explained, \u201cYou can be in the best shape of your life. You could have dialed in every bit of your training. But if your fuel goes out the window, so does your competition.\u201d <\/p>\n But food is more than fuel, noted Supatra Tovar<\/a>, a clinical psychologist, registered dietitian and fitness expert. She said, \u201cIt directly affects physiology, mental clarity, emotional regulation and overall safety. These events place enormous stress on the body through long hours of sustained effort, elevated stress hormones, fluid and electrolyte loss, gastrointestinal strain and nervous system fatigue. What you eat and drink can determine whether you finish strong, struggle through the final miles, or end up injured or unwell.\u201d<\/p>\n Paulson noted that without the fuel, recovery time can take longer if you are depleted. And more importantly, there\u2019s a risk of hurting yourself. \u201cGuess what happens when you\u2019re tired? You start running sloppy. What happens when you run sloppy? You get injured,\u201d she noted. She always knows when her fueling is off during training because she can feel it the next day.<\/p>\n Carbs Are King<\/p>\n Carbohydrates are key for ultra-endurance athletes during training and during competitions. \u201cCarbohydrates are going to be your body\u2019s preferred source of energy, and what it\u2019s going to be most efficient at breaking down for energy,\u201d Goblirsch said. Goblirsch recommended carbohydrates like fruit snacks, Rice Krispies treats, and Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. <\/p>\n Courtesy of Amy Goblirsch and Rob Verhelst<\/p>\n Amy Goblirsch (left) is an ultramarathoner and nutritionist, and Rob Verhelst competes in Ironmans wearing his full firefighter gear.<\/p>\n Paulson goes for simpler food during training, like white rice, pasta, potatoes and pancakes, which are popular foods for many ultrarunners. While Paulson loves a bag of Cheetos during a race, she prefers wetter food during the competition since she often deals with a dry mouth. At aid stations set up five to eight hours apart (depending on the ultramarathon), she\u2019ll choose ramen, which is wet, has carbs in the noodles and sodium in the broth, as well as bananas, applesauce and even oatmeal if it\u2019s liquified enough. <\/p>\n![\"Amy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/698a2d0a220000b4526d9d04.jpg\")
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