What should I eat after an ultramarathon?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 20, 2026
The best advice on post ultra-fuelling is to listen to your body. Ideally, you require all food groups, but you may crave protein as the body will want to repair muscles. I tend to want protein and masses of fruit and vegetables as my body craves the nutrients from the vegetables.
What should I eat after an ultra marathon?
You want to focus on fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains – just like any other time. Some athletes feel compelled to load up on more protein than normal, but this isn't really necessary. A balanced approach with 1.2-1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day is plenty.
What should I eat after a big race?
post-race Smoothies, flavored milk and protein shakes
Carbs and protein are a good way to kickstart recovery after a race. If you prefer something solid, something like a chicken sandwich is a great choice.
How long should you rest after an ultramarathon?
Consider one day of complete rest for every 10 miles raced
I first heard this piece of conventional ultramarathon wisdom from Pam Smith, a long-time ultra champ. Top coach Joe Uhan adds that if a race has more than 150 feet of vertical gain per mile, you may want to take one day off for every 10K raced.
What should an athlete eat after a race?
Protein in post-workout meals aids with muscle recovery and also promotes new muscle growth.
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Given these guidelines, some good examples of snacks for post-competition that contain both protein and carbs are:
- Fruit.
- Peanut butter.
- Granola bars.
- Sandwiches.
- Baked potatoes.
- Chilli.
- Fruit smoothie.
- Juice.
Is it OK not to eat after a run?
After 30 minutes, the window starts to gradually close, and your body is no longer able to absorb carbs as efficiently and quickly. Keep in mind: You don't need to eat carbohydrates after a short run (5 to 10 km), because the glycogen stores have not been depleted.
What runners should not eat?
To dial in your performance, ditch these 12 foods:
- Diet soda. Instead of sugar, diet soda is sweetened with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, cyclamate and acesulfame-k. ...
- Cookies and candy. ...
- Full-fat dairy. ...
- Saturated and trans fat. ...
- Alcohol. ...
- Fried foods. ...
- Caffeinated beverages. ...
- High-Fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
What happens to your body after an ultramarathon?
Your body can go through a lot of stress during these grueling tests of human endurance. During races, nausea and vomiting are the most common problems for runners and some may get blurry vision. Sleepiness and hallucinations are problems in longer races lasting more than 24 hours.
Do ultra runners live longer?
Well, in a research study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, they set out to answer the question 'does running help you live longer? ', and they found that elite athletes had an 80 percent reduction in mortality risk compared to lower performers.
Do ultra runners walk?
A more obvious reason ultramarathons are more accessible than many runners realise is the fact you run them much slower than you would do a shorter-distance race. In fact, much of the time, you don't have to run at all. “Walking is an important part of ultrarunning,” explains Red Bull athlete Dylan Bowman (@dylanbo).
How do I recover after a half marathon?
- Stay Hydrated. A half marathon's distance is just a little over 13 miles. ...
- Take a Cold Bath. While climbing into ice water does not sound that appealing to most of us, it does reduce inflammation significantly. ...
- Give Yourself a Vacation. ...
- Get a Massage. ...
- Take a Light Jog. ...
- Get a Bit More Sleep. ...
- Elevate Your Legs.
Why am I so hungry after a marathon?
Marathon training hunger often strikes after mileage increases or in the peak of training. It makes sense that you need to eat more – your body is burning more calories in training!
Are eggs good after a run?
Experts recommend pairing high-quality proteins (like eggs) and easily digested carbohydrates for post-workout refueling. This powerful combo helps to refuel the body in two ways: the protein helps to build and repair muscle, and the carbohydrates help to replenish your body's glycogen.
Do you gain weight after a marathon?
Some runners complain of weight gain immediately after a marathon. This is most likely due to water retention as your muscles repair and rebuild. Don't be tempted to start (or resume) any weight-loss regime during this time – your body requires a full complement of nutrients to recover from the stress of the race.
How many calories are burned in an hour of ultramarathon?
Most ultrarunners aim for 200-400 calories per hour. A good tip is to set your watch to remind you to take something in every 15 or 20 minutes.
What should vegetarians eat after running?
High-protein vegan foods
- Pulses. Pulses are edible seeds that grow in a pod. ...
- Oats. Every athlete's favourite breakfast, oats and porridge are ideal for slow-release energy before a long ride or run and they're also high in protein. ...
- Natural vegan protein bars. ...
- Tofu and tempeh. ...
- Nuts and nut butters. ...
- Chia seeds. ...
- Seitan. ...
- Quinoa.
Do marathon runners poop themselves?
Runners can experience 'the trots' for a few key reasons
It can also lead to temporary incontinence since your blood is shuttled away from the digestive tract and toward your legs, she said.
Why do marathon runners look so old?
Instead, it's the look of gaunt or saggy skin that may make you look a decade older. The reason, according to the believers, is that all the bouncing and impact from running causes the skin on your face, and more specifically, your cheeks, to sag.
Are ultra runners healthy?
These low levels of sodium in the blood have been found to cause hyponatremia in up to 51% of participants in single-stage ultramarathons, compared to up to 28% for standard marathons. Symptoms vary from nausea, vomiting and headaches to altered mental states, seizures and death.
Are ultra marathons unhealthy?
For the last several years, they have contributed immensely to what we know about some of the risks associated with ultramarathon running, such as hyponatremia and acute kidney injury, and they have produced or contributed to many of the medical guidelines that races around the world follow in order to keep runners ...
Are ultra runners crazy?
Ultrarunners fit their crazy habit around everything else going on in life. Mentally, it may seem too much to balance. However, if you were to spend much time with ultrarunners, you would find running is where they make peace with everything going on in the crazy world surrounding them.
Is 50K an ultra?
Ultramarathons range in length from 27 miles to an unfathomable 240 miles, but the most common distances are 50K (31 miles), 50 miles, 100K (or 62 miles) and 100 miles.
What foods make you run slower?
Are These Foods Making You Run Slower?
- High-fiber foods. Beans, broccoli, and berries: remember those three B's as you don't want to eat them just before a run or a workout. ...
- Dairy. ...
- Sugary drinks. ...
- Fried foods. ...
- Spicy food. ...
- Protein bars.
What fruit is best for runners?
Dried fruit like apricots, figs, or dates are sweet and delicious and best of all, they are the perfect snack for runners before heading out for a run. Being simple carbohydrates, they provide energy quickly. Dried fruit is also loaded with valuable minerals like potassium and magnesium.
What to eat to improve running?
A runner's diet plan typically includes a balance of the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. By focusing on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, people will typically consume enough micronutrients. These include vitamins and minerals that help the body function and recover from workouts.