This is how far runners will go to run further

Most runners in the UK will do just about anything in order to chase down those marginal gains.

But don’t just take it from me. In the lead up to marathon season, Brooks Running decided to validate this theory by launching a UK survey to find out exactly what quantifies ‘anything’.

It turns out that UK runners are willing to down pickle juice (35%), swallow baking soda (29%), munch on caterpillar fungus (24%), eat blood custard (13%) and drink deer penis wine (10%) to get extra energy to run further.

Out of the 1,000 individuals that were asked, the majority admitted to eating energy boosting foods before they head out on their run. The top five foods that UK runners eat are bananas (63%), energy bars (44%), pasta (32%), nuts (31%) and eggs (28%). Surprisingly, UK runners eat pizza (9%) and drink coffee (22%) before heading out to run.

“I’m amazed by the things that runners are willing to eat and drink to run further,” said Dr. Feil, Sports Nutritionist.  “I really wouldn’t recommend anyone eating blood custard or drinking deer penis wine, as it might make you rather unwell during your run. I also wouldn’t advise eating pasta before a run because it spikes the blood sugar which stops your fat metabolism, which you will definitely need to keep running. Pasta is also hard to digest. The less work your gut has to do, the more energy you have. However, eating a banana at least two hours before a run will give you some extra energy to run further.”

Although runners around the world swear by eating and drinking unconventional food and drink, there is of course, a much easier way to get extra energy to run further – simply by switching to an “energy running shoe”. Most UK runners (89%) would switch their shoe if it gave them extra energy to run further.

“As runners ourselves, we know we’re all looking for something to help make running further, just a bit easier,” said Claire Butters, UK & IE Marketing Manager. “And while some food might give you a bit of extra energy, switching to an energy running shoe is really going to help you go the distance. We’ve spent years in the Brooks lab perfecting a way to give all runners more energy to run further – and we cracked it. Brooks Levitate provides the most energy return of leading performance running shoes and features our revolutionary DNA AMP midsole technology which releases energy straight back to you, so you feel like you can run forever.”

So there you have it, folks, 10 per cent of UK runners will drink deer penis wine in order to run further. Need we say more about the mental state of ‘UK runners’?

www.brooksrunning.com