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Ever finish a 5K, 10K or half marathon and see a box of
bananas at the finish line? Sometimes,
there are so many banana peels covering the finish line of a race that you’d
think Donkey Kong had an all-he-could-eat buffet. We all know bananas are good for us but do we
know why we eat them before and after races like Ruckus?
Apart from being the most popular fruit in America, bananas
have loads of carbs and potassium—which make them the perfect pre- and
post-race snack.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates often get tagged as being unhealthy, but
that’s a myth! There are different types of carbs—some healthy, and some that
make people gain weight. The average banana
has about 28 grams of carbs that are easily digested and enter your bloodstream
in the form of glucose. During physical activity, glycogen is used as energy.
By eating bananas before a race you’re ensuring that you’ll have enough glycogen to power you over
through the barricade boulevard.
When eaten after a race, bananas refuel your depleted glycogen reserves and aid
your body in recovery.
Potassium
One banana contains 13% of the daily recommended value of
potassium, a valuable electrolyte lost while sweating. For your body and
muscles to perform at their peak, you need minerals like potassium. If you’ve ever
had a cramp, it is often because you didn’t have enough of the vital minerals
that your muscles needed. The potassium in bananas staves off pesky cramps that
can occur during or after a race.
Unleash Your Inner
Donkey Kong!
When crossing the finish line at this year’s Ruckus, be sure
to go unleash your inner Donkey Kong! In addition to
being great sources of potassium and carbs, bananas also contains vitamin B6
which is an anti-inflammatory agent and also contains vitamin C. Rich in fiber
and nutrients, bananas will fill what’s empty and help your body recover from
the fun and physical activity that awaits you at this year’s Ruckus mud
race!
