In a world of green juice and chia seed pudding, this age-old dish is the original, and perhaps most powerful, superfood, especially for athletes competing at the highest levels.
“I’ve asked a lot of elite endurance athletes about their breakfast foods, particularly before races, and oatmeal comes up again and again and again,” says Matt Fitzgerald, endurance coach, nutritionist, and author of The Endurance Diet.
You’re most likely to see oatmeal served with a ton of fixin’s, but even a bowl of plain oats holds its own as a nutritional panacea. Oatmeal is a whole grain (unless you buy oat bran—just part of the seed—as opposed to rolled oats) filled with key vitamins and minerals, a low-glycemic carb that provides lasting energy for your workout and helps fuel recovery without causing a sugar crash, and high in fiber to aid your digestive and metabolic systems.
But a bowl of oats is also a big blank canvas, ready to be combined with a truckload of other high-quality, nutritious ingredients that make it even better training food. “That’s one of oatmeal’s great virtues. You can take it in so many directions,” says Fitzgerald.
Even energy bar companies use it. Picky Bars have Picky Oats, a lineup of better-for-the-athlete instant oatmeal chock-full of real ingredients to support performance, rather than added sugars or fake health foods. “I literally believe that besides energy bars, oatmeal is the next most pervasive food for athletes,” says Jesse Thomas, former professional triathlete and Picky Bars CEO.
It’s easy to make. All you have to do is boil a ratio of 1/2 cup rolled oats to one cup liquid—either water or a milk of your choice—and top it with whatever you need that day. (For steel-cut oats, change the ratio to 1/4 cup oats to one cup liquid.) Here’s how six athletes do it.
We get it, runners are busy people. That doesn’t mean strength and mobility aren’t still critical to getting faster and staying healthy, though. Try these quick and easy five strength moves for runners:
We get it, runners are busy people. That doesn’t mean strength and mobility aren’t still critical to getting faster and staying healthy, though. Try these quick and easy five strength moves for runners:
If done correctly, it is possible to “crash train” for a half marathon. Whether it’s an injury, an illness, work stress or scheduling that threw you off track, even just four weeks is enough time to prepare for a successful 13.1-miler provided you’re healthy and able to train without further interruptions. But a better approach is to follow this 8-week intermediate half marathon training plan.
The key to crash training is building fitness quickly without taking big risks. The best tools for fast fitness are frequency and intensity. Doing some kind of cardio almost every day—whether that means running, walking or cross-training—will help you make the most of the time you have.
This 8-week intermediate half marathon training plan is perfect if your half marathon is eight weeks away and you’re fit enough to run 5 miles comfortably.
The plan includes “optional” days, when you have a choice to rest, run or cross-train (XT) with non-impact cardio, such as cycling or elliptical training. You’ll get fitter faster if you choose the rest option only when you feel your body needs it.
Each run uses a five-point intensity scale based on ratings of perceived effort (RPE). Heart-rate monitors can be helpful, but going by feel works just as well. Use these guidelines to understand your plan’s intensity scale.
RPE 1: Very Easy—a pleasant effort you feel you could keep up almost indefinitely. RPE 2: Comfortable—you’re not holding yourself back but you can still easily carry on a conversation. RPE 3: Comfortably Hard—the highest intensity at which you can speak comfortably. RPE 4: Hard—after a few minutes at this intensity, your breathing is labored. RPE 5: Very Hard—an effort that you can sustain for a couple of minutes at most
Week 1 Monday: REST Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN30 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 3 Wednesday: EASYRUN 35 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT35 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 x (1 min @ RPE 5/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Saturday: XT 35 min @ RPE 2 Sunday: LONG RUN 5 miles @ RPE 2
Week 2 Monday: REST Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN35 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 3 Wednesday: EASYRUN 40 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT35 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 7 x (1 min @ RPE 5/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Saturday: XT 40 min @ RPE 2 Sunday: LONG RUN 6 miles @ RPE 2
Week 3 Monday: REST Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN35 min @ RPE 2 + 10 min @ RPE 3 Wednesday: EASYRUN 45 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT40 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK 5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 9 x (1 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Saturday: XT 45 min @ RPE 2 Sunday: LONG RUN 7 miles @ RPE 2
Week 4 Monday: REST Tuesday: FAST FINISH RUN30 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 3 Wednesday: EASYRUN 35 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT35 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 7 x (1 min @ RPE 5/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Saturday: XT35 min @ RPE 2 Sunday: LONG RUN6 miles @ RPE 2
Week 5 Monday: REST Tuesday: TEMPO RUN5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 15 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Wednesday: EASYRUN 45 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT45 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 6 x (2 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Saturday: XT45 min @ RPE 2 Sunday: LONG RUN WITH FAST FINISH7 miles @ RPE 2 + 1 mile @ RPE 3
Week 6 Monday: REST Tuesday: TEMPO RUN5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 20 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Wednesday: EASYRUN 50 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT50 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 x (3 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Saturday: XT50 min @ RPE 2 Sunday: LONG RUN WITH FAST FINISH7.5 miles @ RPE 2 + 1.5 mile @ RPE 3
Week 7 Monday: REST Tuesday: TEMPO RUN5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 25 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Wednesday: EASYRUN 55 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: OPTIONAL: WALK, RUN or XT50 min @ RPE 1-2 or Rest Friday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 4 x (4 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Saturday: XT55 min @ RPE 2 Sunday: LONG RUN WITH FAST FINISH 9 miles @ RPE 2 + 2 mile @ RPE 3
Week 8 Monday: REST Tuesday: TEMPO RUN5 min @ RPE 1 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 20 min @ RPE 3 + 10 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Wednesday: EASYRUN 45 min @ RPE 2 Thursday: INTERVAL RUN/WALK5 min @ RPE 1 + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 4 x (2 min @ RPE 4/2 min @ RPE 1) + 5 min @ RPE 2 + 5 min @ RPE 1 Friday: XT35 min @ RPE 2 Saturday: REST Sunday: HALF MARATHON
In a world of green juice and chia seed pudding, this age-old dish is the original, and perhaps most powerful, superfood, especially for athletes competing at the highest levels.
“I’ve asked a lot of elite endurance athletes about their breakfast foods, particularly before races, and oatmeal comes up again and again and again,” says Matt Fitzgerald, endurance coach, nutritionist, and author of The Endurance Diet.
You’re most likely to see oatmeal served with a ton of fixin’s, but even a bowl of plain oats holds its own as a nutritional panacea. Oatmeal is a whole grain (unless you buy oat bran—just part of the seed—as opposed to rolled oats) filled with key vitamins and minerals, a low-glycemic carb that provides lasting energy for your workout and helps fuel recovery without causing a sugar crash, and high in fiber to aid your digestive and metabolic systems.
But a bowl of oats is also a big blank canvas, ready to be combined with a truckload of other high-quality, nutritious ingredients that make it even better training food. “That’s one of oatmeal’s great virtues. You can take it in so many directions,” says Fitzgerald.
Even energy bar companies use it. Picky Bars have Picky Oats, a lineup of better-for-the-athlete instant oatmeal chock-full of real ingredients to support performance, rather than added sugars or fake health foods. “I literally believe that besides energy bars, oatmeal is the next most pervasive food for athletes,” says Jesse Thomas, former professional triathlete and Picky Bars CEO.
It’s easy to make. All you have to do is boil a ratio of 1/2 cup rolled oats to one cup liquid—either water or a milk of your choice—and top it with whatever you need that day. (For steel-cut oats, change the ratio to 1/4 cup oats to one cup liquid.) Here’s how six athletes do it.
In a world of green juice and chia seed pudding, this age-old dish is the original, and perhaps most powerful, superfood, especially for athletes competing at the highest levels.
“I’ve asked a lot of elite endurance athletes about their breakfast foods, particularly before races, and oatmeal comes up again and again and again,” says Matt Fitzgerald, endurance coach, nutritionist, and author of The Endurance Diet.
You’re most likely to see oatmeal served with a ton of fixin’s, but even a bowl of plain oats holds its own as a nutritional panacea. Oatmeal is a whole grain (unless you buy oat bran—just part of the seed—as opposed to rolled oats) filled with key vitamins and minerals, a low-glycemic carb that provides lasting energy for your workout and helps fuel recovery without causing a sugar crash, and high in fiber to aid your digestive and metabolic systems.
But a bowl of oats is also a big blank canvas, ready to be combined with a truckload of other high-quality, nutritious ingredients that make it even better training food. “That’s one of oatmeal’s great virtues. You can take it in so many directions,” says Fitzgerald.
Even energy bar companies use it. Picky Bars have Picky Oats, a lineup of better-for-the-athlete instant oatmeal chock-full of real ingredients to support performance, rather than added sugars or fake health foods. “I literally believe that besides energy bars, oatmeal is the next most pervasive food for athletes,” says Jesse Thomas, former professional triathlete and Picky Bars CEO.
It’s easy to make. All you have to do is boil a ratio of 1/2 cup rolled oats to one cup liquid—either water or a milk of your choice—and top it with whatever you need that day. (For steel-cut oats, change the ratio to 1/4 cup oats to one cup liquid.) Here’s how six athletes do it.
In a world of green juice and chia seed pudding, this age-old dish is the original, and perhaps most powerful, superfood, especially for athletes competing at the highest levels.
“I’ve asked a lot of elite endurance athletes about their breakfast foods, particularly before races, and oatmeal comes up again and again and again,” says Matt Fitzgerald, endurance coach, nutritionist, and author of The Endurance Diet.
You’re most likely to see oatmeal served with a ton of fixin’s, but even a bowl of plain oats holds its own as a nutritional panacea. Oatmeal is a whole grain (unless you buy oat bran—just part of the seed—as opposed to rolled oats) filled with key vitamins and minerals, a low-glycemic carb that provides lasting energy for your workout and helps fuel recovery without causing a sugar crash, and high in fiber to aid your digestive and metabolic systems.
But a bowl of oats is also a big blank canvas, ready to be combined with a truckload of other high-quality, nutritious ingredients that make it even better training food. “That’s one of oatmeal’s great virtues. You can take it in so many directions,” says Fitzgerald.
Even energy bar companies use it. Picky Bars have Picky Oats, a lineup of better-for-the-athlete instant oatmeal chock-full of real ingredients to support performance, rather than added sugars or fake health foods. “I literally believe that besides energy bars, oatmeal is the next most pervasive food for athletes,” says Jesse Thomas, former professional triathlete and Picky Bars CEO.
It’s easy to make. All you have to do is boil a ratio of 1/2 cup rolled oats to one cup liquid—either water or a milk of your choice—and top it with whatever you need that day. (For steel-cut oats, change the ratio to 1/4 cup oats to one cup liquid.) Here’s how six athletes do it.
Try these quick and easy five strength moves for runners:
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