Lee Chimerakis is a retired Palm Beach, Florida, resident who had a successful Wall Street career in finance. A running enthusiast, Lee Chimerakis participates in a leadership program that provides opportunities to teen runners in his local community. One essential aspect of running is proper nutrition, which can include moderate supplementation.
According to a recently released International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) guide, whole foods are the most important source of fuel for running, including fiber- and carb-rich vegetables and grains. When it comes to supplements, caffeine is recommended, as are nitrates, which are naturally found in beetroot and leafy greens. Drinking beetroot juice is a way to access the benefits of concentrated nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide when available oxygen is low. This in turn enhances metabolic and vascular processes.
Another important supplement is the antioxidant beta-alanine, which is found naturally in meat, fish, and poultry. It helps to delay fatigue resulting from the limits of the body’s anaerobic metabolism. This is particularly important in 400-meter through 1,500-meter running events, where maximum effort is exerted over a sustained period. The IAAF also says bicarbonate and creatine have been shown to improve runners’ performance. However, athletes are cautioned to focus on good training and nutrition first, before considering supplements.
