{"id":769501,"date":"2026-09-13T16:34:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T16:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/769501\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T16:34:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T16:34:31","slug":"best-protein-bars-to-fuel-marathon-training-according-to-a-long-distance-runner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/769501\/","title":{"rendered":"Best protein bars to fuel marathon training, according to a long distance runner"},"content":{"rendered":"

\tNew York Post may be compensated and\/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m two weeks out from running the Berlin Marathon, which means prep is more important now than ever \u2014 and it\u2019s not just about the miles.<\/p>\n

Between stretching and foam rolling<\/a>, I\u2019m loading up on protein to keep my body energized for the big day. In fact, according to a study published by ScienceDirect<\/a>, \u201chigher protein intake<\/a> is related to better marathon performance times,\u201d especially when consumed during the taper period in the two weeks leading up to the race.<\/p>\n

According to run coach Lisbeth Jennings<\/a>, eating protein within 30 minutes after a workout can speed up recovery. In the seven days before the marathon, it can also help repair and rebuild muscles so that you feel refreshed at the starting line.<\/p>\n

However, Jennings noted that too much protein right before a run can weigh heavily on the stomach, which is why carb-loading is often advised the morning of. <\/p>\n

\"CarrieCarrie Berk during marathon training Carrie Berk<\/p>\n

My friends and run club coaches always tell me, \u201cNothing new on race day,\u201d so I tested out the best protein bars over the past month to set me up for success.<\/p>\n

Below are the four winners from The Vitamin Shoppe<\/a> I plan to take with me overseas.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/a> The Vitamin Shoppe<\/p>\n

This is my No. 1, tried-and-true favorite. Not only are David bars delicious (the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor literally tastes like a dessert), but they\u2019re packed with 28g of protein. The snack is only 150 calories as well, and contains 0g of sugar.<\/p>\n

Fun fact: this brand actually hosted an ice cream pop-up in New York City earlier this summer, and it made for the perfect post-long run treat.<\/p>\n

\"Grenade<\/a> The Vitamin Shoppe<\/p>\n

Who knew Oreos could be this nutritious? The childhood snack gets a healthy upgrade with 20g of protein to fuel your training and recovery. It tastes like a cheat meal, but in reality, it\u2019s actually good for you.<\/p>\n

\"Built<\/a> The Vitamin Shoppe<\/p>\n

Dare I say peanut butter before a run is basic? Instead, indulge in this peanut butter\/s\u2019mores hybrid with a toasted marshmallow center. You\u2019ll be licking your lips after tasting the chocolate-covered graham chunks and peanut butter coating. The best part: 15g of protein and collagen for extra strength-boosting benefits.<\/p>\n

\"Barebells<\/a> The Vitamin Shoppe<\/p>\n

Barebells is one name that kept coming up when I asked fellow runners for protein bar recommendations. As soon as I learned the brand has a pumpkin spice latte flavor, I was sold. Embrace fall vibes (and consume 20g of protein in the process) while snacking on this no-sugar-added snack.<\/p>\n

This article was written by Carrie Berk<\/a>, Commerce Reporter for the New York Post. Carrie specializes in New York City-ready fashion finds for every style, age and budget. Combing the internet\u2019s sale sections<\/a>, brand collaborations, seasonal trends<\/a>, timeless staples<\/a> and lookalike styles<\/a>, she makes recommendations that stand the test of time in your wardrobe \u2013 without breaking the bank. Before joining The Post full time in 2026, her work appeared in HuffPost, Women\u2019s Health, Newsweek and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New York Post may be compensated and\/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":769502,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,103024,6636,9725,10695,1758,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-769501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-marathons","tag-nutrition","tag-protein","tag-running","tag-shopping","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/769501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=769501"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/769501\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/769502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=769501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=769501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=769501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}