Learning to Fuel: My Journey With Sports Nutrition
Running on Empty
When I first started training for marathons and triathlons, I did something most people would never recommend: I didn’t eat anything.
It wasn’t that I thought I didn’t need fuel. It was more that I didn’t like any of the options. Gels made me gag, most sports products upset my stomach, and since I’m allergic to nuts and seeds, half the products out there weren’t even safe for me.
So, I convinced myself I could just push through without food. Long runs, long rides — water only.
The Failed Experiments
Of course, eventually my body caught up with me. By the end of races, I’d hit the wall hard. My energy crashed, my legs felt like lead, and recovery took forever. I knew I needed to figure something out. I hired a coach - who helped a lot.
I tried everything I could think of:
Licorice.
Fruit snacks.
Bananas.
Maurten gels.
Sandwiches
Hard boiled eggs.
Some of these worked for a while, others didn’t. But over time, I realized it wasn’t just about finding the right food — it was about teaching my stomach how to handle food while exercising..
Training the Gut
One of the biggest lessons I learned was this: nutrition is a skill, just like running or swimming. You can’t just pick something on race day and hope it works. You have to practice.
I started experimenting during training. At first, even small bites felt uncomfortable. But week after week, my body started adjusting. Slowly, my stomach learned how to handle fuel on the move.
The Fig Newton Breakthrough
At one point, in a desperate attempt to figure this out, I walked into a grocery store and bought eight packages of Fig Newtons. I decided I was going to practice until I could eat while running without feeling sick.
And it worked. Run by run, ride by ride I trained my gut to accept them, and suddenly fueling didn’t feel like such a battle. Alongside Fig Newtons, Maurten gels also became a go-to for me. They were one of the few gels that didn’t upset my stomach — and having both options gave me confidence on long runs and race days.
What I Learned
Here’s what my experience taught me about sports nutrition:
Don’t ignore it. You can’t outrun poor fueling forever.
Practice early. Start experimenting months before a race, not the week before.
Find your foods. For me, it turned out to be Fig Newtons and Maurten gels. For you, it might be something else.
Train your stomach. Your gut adapts with practice, just like your legs and lungs.
Final Thoughts
Fueling used to be my biggest weakness, but now I see it as part of training itself. Long runs aren’t just about distance or pace — they’re also about teaching your body how to take in energy.
If you’re struggling with nutrition, don’t give up after a bad gel or upset stomach. Keep experimenting. Practice. Give your gut time to adapt. You might just find — like I did — that Fig Newtons, Maurten gels, or another simple fuel can unlock stronger, happier miles.
I organized my very first 5K this summer. Here’s what went right, what I learned, and how you can plan your own community race step by step.
My First 5K: From Idea to Finish Line
This past summer, I organized my very first 5K race. To be honest, I wasn’t sure where to start. Permits, timing, food, sponsors — it all felt huge. But step by step, with a lot of community support, the race came together. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to put on a race in my town, but I don’t know how,” here’s what I learned.
Step 1: Don’t Go It Alone
One of the best decisions I made was hiring a student to work with me over the summer. We divided up the tasks, shared ideas, and kept each other motivated. Having a second set of hands (and brains!) took away a lot of the stress.
Step 2: Get Sanctioned and Insured
We registered with Athletics Ontario, which turned out to be a smart move. Not only did we get insurance, but it also gave the race some extra credibility. Runners liked knowing it wasn’t just a random fun run — it was official.
Step 3: Figuring Out Timing
I lost sleep over timing — should we go manual, should we invest in chip timing? In the end, we went with Zone4, and I’m glad we did. They mailed us everything (clock, loop, chips, even testers) and had someone on standby to walk me through setup on race day. Everything worked flawlessly, which was a huge relief.
Step 4: Getting the Word Out
Marketing the race was a bit of “all hands on deck.” We:
Printed posters and hung them around town.
Ran Facebook and Instagram ads.
Asked friends to spread the word.
It wasn’t fancy, but people showed up — because in the end, races spread through excitement and personal invites.
Step 5: Planning the Course
We had the choice of officially certifying the course or measuring it ourselves. Since this was our first go, we kept it simple and marked out the distance with clear kilometer signs. It worked fine — and we saved the budget for other things.
Step 6: Food, Drinks, and Sponsors
I was blown away by how generous the community was. Here’s what we pulled together:
Cobs Bread donated their daily leftovers.
Krispy Kreme gave us seven boxes of donuts (the finish line smelled amazing).
Local grocery stores each handed over a $25 gift card, which we turned into fruit, water, and snacks.
All it took was a friendly letter explaining what the race was about.
Step 7: Organizing Volunteers
A race can’t run without volunteers. To keep things organized, I used SignUpGenius to list every position we needed filled. Volunteers could see open roles and sign up themselves, which saved me a ton of emails.
Here are some of the roles we posted:
5K turn-around marshal
Water station crew
Photographer
Sweeper (making sure no one got left behind)
Setup crew
Race kit handout
Chip handout
Medical support
Food tent helpers
Having these roles clearly laid out meant volunteers knew exactly what was expected of them — and on race day, everything flowed much smoother.
Step 8: DIY Bibs
Instead of ordering official race bibs, we bought waterproof labels and markers. Runners wrote their own numbers, and since we had chip timing, the bibs weren’t really needed anyway. It ended up being quirky and fun — people got creative with their numbers.
Step 9: Cookies Instead of Medals
This was probably my favorite touch: instead of medals, we handed out finisher cookies from a local bakery. They even added ribbons so we could hang them around runners’ necks at the finish line. Honestly, they got more smiles (and photos) than medals ever would.
What I’d Tell Anyone Planning Their First Race
If you’re thinking about organizing your first 5K, here are my biggest takeaways:
Don’t try to do it alone — get help.
Lean on your community — local businesses want to support you.
Use tools like SignUpGenius to keep volunteers organized.
Keep it simple — you can go bigger once you’ve got one race under your belt.
Standing at the finish line and watching runners come through — knowing we built this from scratch — was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had.
👉 If you’re dreaming about putting on a race but don’t know where to start, I’d love to help. Check out my Race creation services — I’ll help you avoid the mistakes, focus on the fun, and cross the finish line with a successful event.
Why I Love Parkrun (And Why You Might Too)
It all begins with an idea.
Long Runs vs. Speed Work
I love long, slow runs. There’s nothing better than heading out on a quiet trail, settling into an easy rhythm, and just letting the miles roll by. But every once in a while, I realize I’ve been avoiding the thing every runner knows they should do: speed work.
That’s where Parkrun comes in.
My Saturday Morning Reset
On Saturday mornings, I lace up my shoes and head to my local Parkrun. There’s always a buzz in the air — walkers, kids, stroller-pushing parents, and some seriously fast runners all gathering at the start line. The best part? It’s totally free.
I usually get there early and do 5km before the race then use the 5km park run as a tempo run. Once the timer counts us down, I get pulled along by the energy of the group. Suddenly, I’m running faster than I thought I could. Once the Parkrun is over I will do another 5km or so at an easy pace to get in my kilometres for the day. It’s a great way to break up a long run and get some speed work in.
What Makes Parkrun Special
Over time, I’ve realized Parkrun is about so much more than speed:
It’s welcoming. Nobody cares if you’re first or last — every finisher gets a cheer.
It’s consistent. Rain, snow, or shine, it’s there every Saturday morning.
It’s motivating. Having an official time each week helps me track progress without the pressure of a race.
It’s social. Afterward, people often head out for coffee or stick around to chat. Some of my best running conversations have started that way.
How Parkrun Fits Into My Training
Parkrun has become my favorite way to sprinkle in speed without overthinking it. I don’t need a track or a structured workout. I just show up, run hard, and let the atmosphere push me. It balances out all those long, easy runs I love — and keeps me honest about my fitness.
Final Thoughts
Parkrun is simple: free, weekly, welcoming 5Ks that bring people together. For me, it’s the perfect mix — a chance to push the pace, connect with the community, and leave the park smiling.
If you’ve never tried one, I’d encourage you to check your local Parkrun this Saturday. You might go for speed like I do, or you might just walk and enjoy the company. Either way, you’ll finish feeling glad you came.
👉 Find your nearest event at the official Parkrun website.