Samantha Amend - Track 100 Race

Morning, afternoon & evening on the track!

Wow what a weekend I experienced racing on Saturday 24th April at the Centurion Track 100. This week has just floated by since my epic day of racing now renamed my 'Super Saturday'. A week on and still reflecting on breaking what was a 31-year-old record set by a very experienced ultra-distance legend Eleanor Robinson for the 100 miles. This blog feeds (no pun intended) nicely into my recent interview with XMiles owner, Anthony Clark.

So, onto the day itself...

Porridge trackside at 5.30am and more importantly needed to make sure I executed my fuel strategy. It wasn’t due to be very hot day, but it turned into one also.

Often nutrition isn’t prioritised it's purely the training, massage, and a case of as long as I have carb loaded, I will be fine. I personally have made a few mistakes in the past of not eating enough and had a few “bonk moments” or “hitting the wall” and running out of energy.

Over the years I have learnt some valuable lessons, including, starting the fuelling before it is too late and, making sure I have something rather than nothing which could bank more energy for the later stages. I also do not the last few years carb load for days I just change the foods for white or no reactive foods that cause bloating. For my nutrition, I had already tested during many training months and a few past races, learning what didn’t work. I knew that some foods had been a disaster and could cause a gut reaction.

The plan I created for the day was to take on 12 x Hüma gels (chia with fruit puree) alternating with the caffeine ones every hour. Along with my trusted Revvies cola energy strips every 4 hours added water/Tailwind (electrolyte) drink and sipped throughout the day. Minimal food during the day which consisted of a few fruit pastilles, handful of strawberries and a few watermelon pieces only so I didn’t feel heavy. I took on my nutrition bang on every hour for the first 6 hours having learned from past races and advice from a nutritionist. For periods of the race I did get fed up with the gels, I didn’t know what I wanted and had a feeling of sickness. I took a few hours gap and just small amounts of Tailwind and flat coke to keep my fluid intake which was necessary but also presented the problem of needing the toilet more regularly. Due to COVID and strict rules on hygiene unfortunately meant it was further away which added to distance and time, that said clean and easy to access.

My nutrition may not work for everyone, it’s a personal choice. I like to observe what other runners take on and seen strange concoctions, beef jerky, chocolate, noodles, ice lollies Nutella sandwiches and beer.

Nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated; it is about trial and error and would recommend practicing in both training and low-key races. Also, to have a few options to avoid disappointment if something isn’t there on the day you may decide you want. I am grateful to my sponsor Revvies and the fantastic natural products creation of Tailwind and Hüma gels.

Happy Fuelling!