May 9, 2019

The best energy food for beginner running

By Genny Owen
4 min read

Tackling her first marathon this year, she's done all the legwork so you don't have to.

What you feed your body with pre and post run can have a major impact on your performance, mood and overall general health. It’s estimated that we burn around 100 calories per mile running and as a newbie to running, you may find your appetite increases too. It’s therefore important that we that we fuel our bodies sufficiently.

That said, if you’re new to running, you don’t need to go into overdrive and start carb loading or purchasing protein power and energy bars galore! Following a general balanced diet is more than sufficient when you’re just starting out. It may well be that you just need to make a few small tweaks in order to see and feel substantial changes.

So what is a balanced diet anyway?

Firstly a balanced diet doesn’t equal restriction or bland boredom. It’s about eating a variety of healthy foods but also treating yourself once in a while. Think of it as ‘everything in moderation, including moderation’ (!).  In general a balanced diet is made up of 50-60% Carbohydrates, 20-25% Proteins, 15-20% Fats, Vitamins and Minerals.

Complex, unrefined carbs such as whole grain rice or pasta and sweet potato are perfect, whilst lean meats, milk, fish and eggs are great sources of protein. Whilst the name might suggest otherwise, some fats are good for you. Try to steer clear from ‘bad’ fats often seen in processed food and opt for unsaturated fats found in nuts, seeds, fish and my all time favourite, the trusty avocado! You’ll also find heaps of vitamins and minerals in fruit and vegetables so try to load these up on your plate at each meal.  

Why is a balanced diet important?

The different food groups all have distinct primary benefits. Carbs are great for slow release energy, helping us tick along, whilst protein is found to aid muscle repair, recovery and growth. Fats (in moderation) also help our energy levels and cell growth, whilst vitamins and minerals can boost our immune system, keeping us fighting fit. Combined, a balanced diet therefore offers us an array of benefits, making it perfect for running.

What and when?

We all react differently to certain foods, so take this one with a pinch of salt and play around to find what works for you. The general advice is to avoid eating anything 30-60 minutes before you run so that your body has time to fully digest and process food (as well as hopefully avoid stomach cramps, stitches etc whilst running). If you want to eat something 30-60 minutes beforehand, try to avoid sugary sweets and chocolate which are just empty calories. Whilst their shiny wrappers might be tempting and the initial sugar rush gives you an instant hit,  it will be very short lived.

Why not opt for something that offers slow release energy such as a banana, or an easily digestible yoghurt or smoothie to keep you going. If you’re eating a little earlier, say 2 hours before or more, you can choose something more substantial that fits in with meal time. I’m a huge fan of peanut butter on toast, porridge or avo and eggs on toast.

If you’re going to run first thing in the morning, it may well be that you can’t face the thought of any food at all. That’s ok, given that you’ll be running for an hour or less, your body should cope just fine. If that’s the case, stay hydrated and try to eat a decent meal the night before to put your body in good stead. For example, salmon with brown rice and green veg or a homemade chicken stir fry should do the trick.

Post exercise, the first hour is key as your body tries to return to normality, restoring our glycogen levels and repairing muscles which have been under stress during exercise. To give our bodies a helping hand in this ‘power hour’, a 200-400 calorie snack with carbs and protein is recommended. I personally never feel that hungry immediately after exercise, so I find a smoothie or protein bar works for me, but it’s totally up to you.

At the end of the day, just listen to your body. Food can be used as fuel both pre and post running. But if you’re feeling fatigued or weak it may well be because you haven’t quite figured out what works for you just yet. So long as you follow a balanced diet though, you’re on the right track!

Get gear

Cliff Bars - A great snack, pre or post running. Essentially a healthy flapjack but with the right balance of carbs and protein to leave you feeling content and energised. With so many flavours to choose from, it’s easy to get addicted.

Tribe Protein Bar - Another great snack filled with protein, made from 100% natural ingredients. Delicious flavours including chocolate brownie and coffee and walnut make them the perfect fix when you’re craving something sweet. Top tip...great dessert when softened slightly in the microwave and added to natural/greek yoghurt.

Meridian Peanut Butter - Buying a large tub of this is dangerous since it tastes so good! But it’s a great source of protein and good fats since its made up entirely from nuts and no added nasties. Great on toast, in smoothies, drizzled over porridge, the opportunities are endless!

SiS Mini Go Bar - A yummy snack that’s not only bound to give you energy but also packs in 2 of your 5 a day fruit.

Get inspired 

Lacking ideas on what to cook for dinner or craving some yummy running snacks? Eat2Run has you covered! As a sports nutritionist, Sarah’s recipes are not only guaranteed to be packed full of energy and goodness for performance, but they’re also downright delicious. Sarah's ginger oat bars are a team favourite. 



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Let's Do This Team's Top 2025 Event Picks

As the clock strikes midnight and the promise of a fresh start begins, many of us are setting our sights on challenges that will make 2025 a year to remember. To help give you some new year inspo, we asked our team to share their goals for the year ahead. Whether you’re looking to smash a personal best, conquer an iconic event, or try something entirely new, we hope our team’s resolutions inspire you to set some big, bold goals of your own.Here’s what we’re working towards in 2025:

New Year, New Goals: 2025 inspo from the Let’s Do This team 

As the clock strikes midnight and the promise of a fresh start begins, many of us are setting our sights on challenges that will make 2025 a year to remember. To help give you some new year inspo, we asked our team to share their goals for the year ahead. Whether you’re looking to smash a personal best, conquer an iconic event, or try something entirely new, we hope our team’s resolutions inspire you to set some big, bold goals of your own.

Here’s what we’re working towards in 2025:

Reece: A Year of Firsts

"2025 is going to be a year of firsts for me. I’ll be tackling my first triathlon at Blenheim, running my first ultra at Race to the Stones, and (if I can snag a spot) taking on my first Hyrox event in London. Here’s to pushing boundaries!"

Book now: 

Blenheim Palace Triathlon

Race to the Stones

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Oscar: Chasing Speed

I’m keeping it short and speedy this year—hopefully! My goals are a sub-17-minute 5k and a 5-minute mile. 

I’ve got my eye on the Battersea Chase the Sun/Moon events because the flat, fast course is perfect for a PB.

Book now:

Battersea Chase the Moon January

Lisa: Hitting the Trails and City Breaks

"I’ve heard so many great things about Maverick events from the Let’s Do This team, so I’m thinking of booking the Original West Sussex—it’s just a short train ride from London. I also want to use races as an excuse to travel, and I’ve got my eye on the Rome Marathon in March as my first running holiday of the year."

Book Now: 

Maverick Original West Sussex

Dom: Fast and Far

My focus is on speed and endurance. I’m aiming for a sub-1:20 half marathon at the Bath Half in March, then finishing the year strong at the Chicago Marathon. 

Book now:

Bath Half Marathon

Rob: Epic Adventures

This year, I’m taking on the Ultra Trail Snowdonia 50k and aiming for the UTMB. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll swap the running shoes for a multi-day gravel race. Either way, it’s going to be an adventure!

Book now:

Snowdonia UTMB

James: My First Ultra

This is the year I’ll tackle my first ultra! I’m heading up to the Lakes for the 55km 5 Valleys race in September. Can’t wait to take in the incredible scenery while pushing myself to new limits.

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13 Valleys Ultra Marathon (5 Valleys 50k)

Rachel: Elevating My Goals

"I’m mixing things up in 2025 by focusing on elevation rather than distance. My big goal? A race with 950 meters of climb over 16 kilometers. It’s going to be a whole new kind of challenge!"

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JC: A Year of the Super Halfs

I’ve convinced my friends to tackle the Super Halfs series with me. After running Copenhagen last year, we’ve got Lisbon on the cards for March. I’m also hoping to get into cycling—fingers crossed I can bag a spot at Bike New York's 5 Boro Bike Tour and combine it with a New York city break with friends!

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Whether you're gearing up for your first race or taking on a bucket-list event, there’s no better time than the new year to start planning your next adventure. What goals are you setting for 2025? Let us know—we’d love to cheer you on!

How To: Set Your 2025 Running Goals with Coopah

As we are approaching the end of the year, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your 2025 running goals, and what you want to achieve over the next 12 months.We know it can be hard to know how to set your running goals, so we have asked Jordan Foster, Head Coach at Coopah, the Run Coaching App to share her top tips.

As we are approaching the end of the year, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your 2025 running goals, and what you want to achieve over the next 12 months.

We know it can be hard to know how to set your running goals, so we have asked Jordan Foster, Head Coach at Coopah, the Run Coaching App to share her top tips.

I honestly love nothing more than sitting down at the end of December and writing a list of what I want to achieve the following year; whether thats running, professional or just general day to day life. But, for the purpose of this blog, lets stick to running.

And do you know the best thing about running goals: your goals are entirely your own.

  • If you want to just stat your running journey, amazing.
  • If you’re chasing a personal best (PB), go for it.
  • If you’re aiming to cross the finish line of your first marathon in one piece, incredible.

The exact goal itself doesn’t matter as much as the process of setting it, and building the plan to achieve it. So, here are some tips to help you create meaningful and achievable running goals for 2025.

Be Specific

Think about what really matters to you, as I said a goal doesn’t always need to be time based, but having a clear, specific goal is a great way to not only stay motivated, but also to ensure you are doing the right things to help you get there. For example a vague goal like “start running more” is a good start, but the magic really happens when you get specific and know exactly what you are aiming for;

  • Want to aim for your first 5km? Awesome, set yourself a target date of when you want to achieve it to give you something to aim for.
  • Running your first marathon? Brilliant, maybe the goal is to finish strong and soak in every moment.
  • Just want to build confidence and consistency? Great, focus on nailing your training plan.

How Coopah Can Help: When setting up your training plan we will ask for your goal for your event, along with finding out more about your running history and experience. Which in turn will generate you a personalised training plan that is tailored specifically to your current fitness level and your overall goal. So you have peace of mind knowing that your plan is designed with your end goal in mind.  Download the app and get started today.

Be Brave

Let’s be honest: big goals can feel scary. But does that mean we shouldn’t set them? Absolutely not.

Over the years, I have set myself many big goals in running. Some of these I have achieved, and some I have not. But does that mean I have failed? Personally, I don’t think so.

Because I still put myself out there, I still worked hard towards trying to achieve it and I showed up and tried my best. And that is really the most important thing.

So set those big goals. Be brave and push yourself. And remember, the best growth happens when we take on those big challenges that feel slightly out of reach.

How Coopah Can Help: Having the right support can make all the difference when setting those big goals, and with Coopah you have 24/7 access to our team of coaches who are on hand to help, support and advise you throughout your training plan. Whether you have a question about your plan, need that extra bit of motivation or just want to share how you are getting on, we are there for you every step of the way. Download the app and chat to your coach today.

Be Realistic

That said, whilst being brave is great, it’s also important to be honest with yourself and make sure those goals you are setting are realistic in the time frame you have;

  • How far away is your event?
  • How much time can you realistically commit to training each week?
  • What’s your current fitness level?

For example if your dream is to run a marathon, but right now you are at right at the start of your running journey, you may just need to take a step back and set yourself a smaller goal to achieve in the short term, whilst creating a long term plan to achieve this.

By setting yourself smaller, manageable goals this will also help to keep you motivated during your training as you will hopefully see progress a lot quicker, whilst knowing everything you are doing is getting you one step closer to achieving your ultimate goal.

For example your first goal could be to run your first 5km, then build up to 10km and so on.

Remember, progress in running takes time. It takes effort, hard work and commitment. We can’t always achieve everything we want to do at once, so having those long term goals and plan is a great way to keep you motivated to ensure you are always heading in the right direction.

How Coopah Can Help: With Coopah you can easily track your progress to see if you are on track to hitting your goals. Every workout will be tailored to your overall goal so you can see in real time if you are hitting your target. Download the app and start making progress from today.

Be Prepared

So here is your challenge for this week. Take some time to sit down, grab a notebook, or even the notes app on your phone, and think about your running goals. Not just the easy ones, but those big, bold, slightly scary goals too. Write them down.

Now, once you’ve got those goals in front of you, I want you to think about how you’re going to achieve them, and use the tips from this blog:

  • Be Specific about what you want.
  • Be Brave and aim high.
  • Be Realistic about your current fitness and life commitments.

I promise you, just writing your goals down is a huge step forward. Once you’ve committed to them, you’re already on the journey. And remember, the journey itself is part of the fun.

You might hit your goal in 3 months, or 6 months, or it could be a long-term goal that takes a few years. Whatever the timeline, every time you lace up your shoes and head out the door, you’re one step closer.

So next time you’re on a run, remind yourself: every mile, every sweaty workout, every “I really don’t feel like this” moment is part of the process. Celebrate the little wins along the way, as they’re what make the big wins possible.

The Challenges Women Face in Running and How It Impacts Participation

Running is often lauded as one of the most accessible sports—just lace up your trainers and go. However, for many women, the barriers to participation go far beyond the logistical. While safety concerns are frequently highlighted, deeper systemic issues like access to the sport and unequal treatment are also preventing more women from running. It was a topic keenly discussed at our In Her Stride panel held at the end of November, with key members of the female running community including Sophie Power, Tasha Thompson, Rehana Mawani and Emily Shane. 

Running is often lauded as one of the most accessible sports—just lace up your trainers and go. However, for many women, the barriers to participation go far beyond the logistical. While safety concerns are frequently highlighted, deeper systemic issues like access to the sport and unequal treatment are also preventing more women from running. It was a topic keenly discussed at our In Her Stride panel held at the end of November, with key members of the female running community including Sophie Power, Tasha Thompson, Rehana Mawani and Emily Shane. 

Before we kick things off however, we should highlight that female participation in running events is growing, and this is a great thing! According to data from Let’s Do This, women in their 20s are the fastest-growing demographic in event participation this year. However despite this, women are still 16% less likely to run every week compared to men. This disparity is particularly striking given that women report higher levels of personal benefits from running, such as improved fitness, better sleep, and reduced stress.

The reasons for this are complex and personal, however we have broken down three key challenges discussed during our panel and the solutions explored that could help address them.

1. The Pressure of Pace

One of the biggest hurdles for many women is the pressure to run faster. Despite the average UK woman’s running speed of 06:37 min/km (according to Strava), most run clubs don’t cater to this with the slowest pace often around 6 minutes per km. Add to this the relentless focus on personal bests and fast times on social media, and it’s no surprise that many women feel too intimidated to join in. 

Thankfully, there are starting to be more people rebelling against this speed obsession, including our panelist, Emily Shane. Emily has been leading the charge to encourage more women to disregard pace and focus on the experience of running to drive uptake amongst women. Initiatives like events without cutoff times and more inclusive pace groups at running clubs are vital to creating a more welcoming environment and broadening the benefits of running to the experience and community. 

2. Perception of Sport in Schools

One of the topics hotly discussed was how for many girls, the barriers to enjoying physical activity start at school. Puberty, coupled with changing bodies and fluctuating emotions, can make sports feel daunting and uncomfortable for teenage girls. Research highlights this disparity: only 38% of girls enjoy sport and exercise compared to 53% of boys, and just 26% of girls feel confident in physical activity versus 43% of boys.

The panel emphasised the need to address this such as:

  • Introducing a wider variety of sports and fitness activities to cater to different interests
  • Providing more supportive and confidence-boosting PE kits.
  • Showcasing more female role models in sport to inspire young girls.

By addressing these issues at the school level, we can foster a love of sport that lasts into adulthood.

3. Treatment at Events

This is a topic that panelist Sophie Power, founder of SheRACES is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about. Even at organised running events, women often experience unequal treatment. From “unisex: t-shirts (which are actually designed for men) to a lack of sanitary products in portaloos, these "small things" can collectively make women feel like an afterthought. Prize money inequality and rigid event policies—like no deferral options for pregnant or postpartum women—further highlight these disparities.

Thankfully, initiatives like the 50:50 campaign by Threshold (a campaign to get 50% of women at Ultra startlines vs. the current average of 30%) and the advocacy work of SheRACES are driving change, and there are many amazing event organisers such as Maverick, Threshold, Why We Run and many more, that are working hard to make their events are inclusive as possible for women. 

Despite these challenges, the panel and attendees felt overwhelmingly optimistic about the future of running for women and the benefits it brings us. Progress is being made, however we all need to add our voices to the conversation to help more women get into the sport and reap the benefits. 

Some Helpful Resources

Here are a few helpful resources. This list isn’t exhaustive by any means, however is a good starting point for those looking for inspiration on where to start. 

Female friendly events: 

Female Only Run Clubs

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