While it’s important for everyone to have a healthy diet, it’s even more critical for those who are exercising regularly because your body really needs the fuel that a healthy, balanced diet provides. If you eat too many chips or cookies or drink too much beer, it not only may make/keep you chunky, but it will deprive your body of the complex carbohydrates, protein and even healthy fats it needs to be at peak performance. All of this means you probably won’t be able to run quite as fast or long as you might otherwise.

So remember to eat three meals a day or five to six smaller ones every few hours. Do not skip meals, especially breakfast. Make sure your meals have more fruits and vegetables than meat and breads/potatoes. When you do eat meat, choose lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. Bread products should be whole grains; dairy products are best low-fat or fat-free. Desserts aren’t evil, but eat them in small portions. As always, consult your physician or nutritionist for the marathon eating plan best for you.