‘Nana Power! Why Eat a Banana Before and After Ruckus?

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!