Duringthe race-any type of race-the refreshments are a happy oasis. When you run on the road maybe you don’t even stop there, and in any case the stops are usually reduced to the bare minimum: a sip and go. When you’re running in the mountains-when the miles increase and the number of hours you plan to be out is often in double digits-things are slightly different, and refreshment can be as enormously life-saving as a death trap.
What can go wrong? Mainly two things.
- Once you get there, you don’t find what you would need. I have happened to arrive with completely empty water bottles and find that they had run out of water, not well when the next water point is perhaps 10-15 km ahead. I happened to arrive hungry (after 40-50 km) and find only freeze-dried bananas and a handful of almonds: since then some real food, food worthy of the name, is always ready in a secret pocket of my backpack. Finally, it happened to me that the refreshment just wasn’t there. Yes, you got it right. The refreshment station was regularly marked on the race website, it was indicated on the bib, and instead nothing. Here things could get really bad, even just psychologically it’s a devastating experience that-I hope it doesn’t happen to you, but if it does-you can get through it only through the brotherhood and mutual help of those who are running with you.
- The second trap, however, is the opposite case. The refreshment is nice, warm, cozy. Packed with all the treats you crave, with a recliner and a Netflix subscription at your disposal. You lay down on it. The body warms up but the legs get cold. Minutes turn into half hours and restarting becomes increasingly difficult and unlikely.
But what do we then feed on at these blessed refreshments? Here is a small, non-exhaustive list of everything I remember finding. No, I didn’t really taste all of it.
Liquids
Still water, sparkling water, mineral salts, cola, juice, iced tea, juice, energy drink, beer, wine.
Solids
Crackers, orange, lemon, banana, dehydrated banana, strawberries, apple, dried apple, chocolate, chips, nachos, popcorn, pie crust, cheese cake, muffins, dried fruit mix, dehydrated fruit mix, gels, protein bars, cheeses (parmesan, fontina, brie, various caciottas), salami, mortadella, ham, speck, pineapple, pastries, cheese sandwich, ham sandwich, pickles, bread, carasau bread, gummy candy, various jams, hazelnut cream, peanut butter, potatoes, yam (yes, with a b), tomatoes, rock salt, grapes, watermelon, focaccia.
Hot
Coffee, tea, chicken broth, noodles, white rice, pasta with meat sauce, pasta with tomato sauce, polenta, creamed potatoes, mushrooms with truffles, mulled wine, sausages, tongue with green sauce and anchovies.
I’ll tell you what, let’s keep this list updated: if something is missing, if you have found something else, write it in the comments and we will add it.
—
Cover photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash