Even when you consume energy chews, gels, and sports drinks, your long run may leave you dragging in the twilight kays. “On runs over 20 kilometres, carb-only fuel often leaves runners hungry. Protein and fat take longer to digest, so adding them to the mix delivers more sustained energy to prevent crashing,” says Anne Mauney, a dietician and marathoner. However, she also points out that fat and protein can cause GI distress mid-run, so it’s best to test alternate fuels on shorter runs first.
Energy bites are trendy sources of fuel that are made with nuts, dried fruit, and flavour enhancers such as cocoa powder and shredded coconut. “It’s hard to mess these up,” says Mauney.
Blend your ingredients in a food processor, roll into balls, and store in the…