Each week we will feature one of the ambassadors from the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon Challenge 13.1 team.
The group consists of five people who will be taking on the challenge of running a half marathon for the first time.
We will also be sharing some top tips from the Official Coach, Stuart Kennedy and Official Nutrition Partner, Framar Health.
Name: Robert Biggerstaff
Weeks to race day: Seven
Charity: Stroke Association
Why you’ve chosen the charity: I want to raise awareness and money for the Stroke Association as my brother Dale had a massive stroke which nearly killed him back in 2016 at just 42 years of age.
Tell us a little about yourself and why you are running the half marathon? My main reason is my chosen charity but I also want to get into better shape having now reached the 40 mark.
Were you an active person before you signed up? Before signing up for the Half Marathon I had ran very little. I took park in the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon Team Relay in May and completed a couple of 5k parkruns. My longest run before May was 5 mile in the relay and to be honest it was a struggle for me.
Longest run to date: 7 miles
What has been the biggest struggle? I’ve found getting into a training routine after work hard. It’s difficult to motivate myself when I get home from work tired but with the help of Stuart Kennedy, our Coach and Sarah Trimble our Nutritionist from Framar Health, I have got into a good running routine; from core workouts to hill sprints to long runs.
What are you enjoying? I’m now enjoying my running and I feel great after. Instead of dreading coming home from work, I’m looking forward to finishing and putting on my trainers to pound the pavements. In seven weeks’ time I will be on the start line knowing that through sheer determination and support from my family, I will complete the 13.1 miles and hopefully do this in under 2 hours 10 minutes.
Has your diet changed? Sarah has helped with my diet and gave me some great advice on super foods and energy foods to eat before long runs and workouts. Five weeks into training increasing mileage, this has not been easy for me but with training and changing my diet this is something I believe I can do now.
NUTRITION TIPS OF THE WEEK
Courtesy of Sarah Trimble Nutrition at Framar Health, Official Nutrition Partner for the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon
What to eat before you run:
1. Meals should be consumed at least 2 hours before a run, running on a full stomach can result in painful gastric symptoms such as cramping and diarrhoea. If it’s a few hours since you’ve eaten, you should eat a small snack before a run such as a banana with a handful of nuts or an energy bar (such as NAKD bars) which provide fast release carbohydrates.
2. It’s essential to eat a good serving of a carbohydrate-rich food before a run. Glucose (blood sugar) is the fuel that supplies energy to our muscles during exercise; glucose is produced as a result of carbohydrates in our food. Good pre-run carb sources include pasta, rice, oats in porridge or oatcakes, bread (sourdough) and potatoes.
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