We’re here to help you prepare for your exciting day by providing you with 4 top tips to fuel your body.
Taking on obstacle course activities requires you to complete intense workouts and exercises. Some of the challenges at OCR Park include monkey bars, rope climbs and other high intensity workouts, but at the end of it what are we really doing? We’re running, walking, jumping, or crawling to the finish line.
This requires you to have controlled, energy fueling meal plans to maintain a healthy body preparing you to take on these challenges. What you eat leading up to obstacle race day is crucial to help you overcome the challenges that come doing the activities as it impacts your energy levels and mood.
While sweating and burning calories is good, neither of it makes sense if you are not eating right. Here, we share our 4 top tips on what you should consume that will not only keep you healthy and fit but also make your obstacle runs at the park more enjoyable.
- The most important source of fuel needed is carbohydrates! You’ve heard the bad reputation carbs get? Carbs are bad if you’re having them in the form of sugary drinks, candies and other processed foods or it’s because you’re consuming too much of it. A diet with insufficient carbs can lead to poor performance, kidney problems, dehydration and you certainly don’t want all of that.What kind of good carbohydrates should you be consuming then? Potatoes, whole grains, vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts and whole grain bread. Fruits are also an excellent way to load up on carbs to strengthen yourself in time for the obstacle course.
- Doing OCR will take a lot out of your body, to prepare for the loss, stock up on blood fueling foods. These include green vegetables, beans, beets and some red meat if you’re not a vegan or vegetarian.
- Still want to get yourself a pizza with fries on the side? That’s okay! Occasional snacking is not going to hurt you in fact, our advice to you is, don’t entirely subtract the bad food but increase the intake of vegetables a day.
- While foods are crucial, don’t ignore your liquids. Make sure to stay hydrated as it is the number one cause for not completing an OCR challenge. Especially with the summer days ahead of us, max out your liquid levels. Your body will lose a lot of electrolytes due to sweating so having a sports drink would be a good idea too. Protein shakes, homemade juices and natural energy drinks are also an excellent source of replenishment.
On the day you plan to visit OCR Park, here are some breakfast ideas to keep your energy levels intact:
- Oatmeal
- Whole grain toast with avocado or peanut butter
- Greek yogurt
- Fruits: banana is key
- Nuts: almonds and walnuts
- Fruit smoothies consisting of small fruits like strawberries, protein powder, chia seeds and almond milk
Proper nutrition is key for you to successfully get through our obstacle course, this pre-OCR nutrition guide is to help you understand the foods you should consume before your upcoming race.
We cannot wait to see you on the obstacle course soon!
