By: Blonde Two
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that an army marches on its stomach. In my case, the army would be able to march quite a long way because I have quite a big stomach.
The Two Blondes and their team have been facing the issue of expedition nutrition over the last few of weeks as our youngsters have been doing their final training for Ten Tors. Some have eaten the right things and marched well, others have eaten the wrong things and – well, stopped marching altogether. There have been cramps and vomit and lots of long faces (including ours).
Our particular and very modern bugbear this year has been energy drinks. We have a epidemic in this country of young people who are coming to rely on these nasty concoctions just to wake up in the morning. One of our lads kept experiencing terrible leg cramps when the going got tough – his team mates narrowed it down to his high energy drink consumption. After some persuasion he agreed to avoid them for a while and walked a tough route last weekend with no cramps whatsoever.
We have spent a lot of time talking to our kids about nutrition and what to eat during an expedition (flapjack being my longstanding favourite) but still had drop-outs last weekend due to the wrong food or not enough calories. I decided that there was no more time for Mrs Nice Blonde and wrote each of our team members a diet sheet. This has a “two weeks to go” and a “three days to go” section.
I think they took it seriously when I handed the sheets out. There were groans that crisps, take away and pizza were in the “no” section. Energy drinks are now completely banned (in my dreams) as is alcohol. One poor lad has his 18th birthday a couple of days before Ten Tors but was quite accepting of my instruction to “not even go to the party”. Hopefully, in two weeks time, we will have three teams who have eaten plenty of carbs, protein and fresh fruit and veg. and who will be glowing with good health and physically up for the challenge that is ahead of them.
We shall have to see if they manage to stick to it (or even try to stick to it). We will do our best – pasta and brownies the night before (the cake not the small people), bacon rolls, hot chocolate and flapjack for breakfast. But then it will be up to them – the whole Ten Tors ethos is about independence. They walk alone, make decisions alone, sleep alone and they eat alone. We have done our best – the food thing is up to them now.
The best energy drink ever for walking and keeping your stamina up is water! If you have a drink of water every 15 mins you can keep walking for hours.
If you feel tired when walking up a steep slope have a drink of water you will be amazed at the surge of energy it will give you!
Milk has all the nutrients needed to give energy and has been proven to be far more efficient than energy drinks and is far cheaper!
Some good points here. Energy drinks, the wrong solution (no pun) for a serious matter.
As a (former) marathon runner, it is quickly learned that not all sports drinks are suitable for you. So Select a drink you can take and stick to it. That eliminated the caffeine type drinks and concentrates on those that provide electrolyte for the muscle.
Why is this relevant here? Simple’s! many of the youngsters have probably not undertaken real exercise for some time if at all. Therefore muscles are weak and use their reserves very quickly. A good sports drink helps on the endurance walk.
Personally I used a combination of energy bars/flapjacks and Leppen squeezy (with water). There are others and of course, the good old banana.
Too much sweet stuff is also counter productive, so ration out those jelly babies!
Carlos
I have always favoured water over other drinks so it is easy for me. I even like hot water from time to time.
Energy drinks are evil and should be banned. My eldest is obviously now seeing kids at school with them so eyes them up in the shops but I won’t let her go there. My fav drink in the world is Pepsi Max – makes me go a bit barmy and gives me a nice caffeine fix. However, I never dream of taking fizzy drink on a long stomp with me – water and squash all the way. Same goes for my kids. I do always seem to end up with a headache though and I’m sure its not dehydration but caffeine withdrawal – I drink probably 10 cups of tea a day and a litre of pepsi 🙁 Bad me!!!!
I’m sure the kids are all sensible enough to follow your diet plan and will be very thankful when they come skipping over the line in a couple of sundays time!
Ban the energy drink!
I seriously think they should – the detrimental effects on health as well as the impact in schools?
I’ve mentioned this before, before it’s worth a watch from about 11 minutes in. Pack the jam sarnies!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01l1yxk/Panorama_The_Truth_About_Sports_Products/
Am now wondering if marmalade will do – Paddington Bear loved it.
Yes, but keep it under your hat…
Well he did make it all the way from Peru so must’ve done some good!!!
Used to walk the moor all day on a bar of Fruit and Nut – the big Cadbury one – and a pint of water. Sadly, those days long gone and I need cheese ‘n’ pickle butties these days, but WATER is still the best drink – stay hydrated! Mind you , when cold a thermos of scalding hot tea is a great stimulus even if it is waiting in the car. The thing is, everyone goes through a pain/stop barrier. If you are ready for it, you can plod through it, but if unprepared, it seems impossible. But definitely no fizz, no sticky stimulants – you don’t need a sudden surge of energy – unlike a runner – you need a steady store that is regularly and gently topped up. Eat little and hourly. Sit for 3 minutes out of every 60, preferably with your feet on a boulder, higher than your head.
Plenty of boulders on Dartmoor – so that shouldn’t be a problem!
A couple of years ago Mr F and I went on a 2 day hike across Dartmoor. Our biggest mistake was stopping off at the Forest Inn on the second day and having a pint and a bowl of chips – the next few miles were really really hard work!!!!
I can’t drink a pint at lunch time without falling asleep so it wouldn’t work for. Chips another matter though!