5 Healthy Snacks to get you through the London Marathon

It’s exactly one month until the London Marathon. If you haven’t already started training, you might be better off checking out our ‘top ten running tips’ first. For the rest of you, we’ve compiled a selection of healthy snacks to help fuel your body during this gruelling event!


Kicking off in Greenwich Park during the early hours of the 26th April, the course takes in some of London’s most beautiful sights, including the Cutty Sark, the Tower of London, Nelson’s Column, and the London Eye, before finishing in front of Buck’ Palace. But a run of this length requires some hearty on-the-go sustenance, to bolster your energy levels. Obviously, you could just grab a handful of choccie bars from the corner shop that morning, but then again, the following five treats have been formulated with success in mind!


Pre-marathon Nutrition

Chirps Egg White Crisps

Chirps are a new product on the market, which, for all intents and purposes, are basically a packet of crisps, but with one major difference – instead of potatoes, they’re made from egg whites. Yes, egg whites! As such, Chirps are high in protein (providing 15% of your RDA), and contain approximately half the calories, carbohydrates and saturated fats than your standard brand of crisps.

During what is no doubt an intense training regime, chances are you’ll crave a lovely carb-loaded packet of crisps at least once. With Chirps, you can satisfy the craving without jeopardising your diet!

PhD Protein Flapjack Bar

With only 2g of sugar, 3g of saturated fat, and a whopping 19g of protein, this is a dream come true for the sweet-toothed athlete. PhD have combined premium quality whey protein and milk protein isolate, with the finest rolled and malted oats, to produce a flapjack which will help build muscle mass while providing a slow sustained release of energy during your training.



During the marathon

Clif Shot Energy Bloks

Very similar in consistency to jelly before the hot water is added, Clif Shot Bloks are effectively semi-solid, easy-to-chew sources of carbohydrates—your body's preferred source of fuel during activity.

Pop half a packet fifteen minutes before the race kicks off, to increase blood sugar levels, followed by one to two every hour afterwards, to keep your energy levels up in the easiest manner possible.

Clif Shot Energy Gels

Let’s face it, what with the artisan coffee shops percolating their way through every street in the capital over the last few years, the 21st century Londoner is officially a caffeine fiend. But unless you’re thinking of carrying a thermos flask around with you on the day, you’re going to be crossing that finish line like a shaking, caffeine-starved, cold-turkeyed mess...

Don’t worry, help is at hand in the form of the Clif Double Espresso Shot Energy Gel. Simply squeeze the self contained pouch of liquid into your mouth to receive an immediate dose of caffeine and quick release energy!


Post marathon treat

Hale & Hearty Pure Oat Flapjack 

Gluten free, wheat free, milk free, soya free, GMO free, and yet, perhaps surprisingly, not taste free, the Hale & Hearty Flapjack is made from oats, sunflower seeds, and deliciously sweet raisins. As such, it’s the perfect post-marathon treat – full of flavour, without the unnecessary additives found in most other products of its kind.


Let us know in the comment box below what you’ve been eating in the lead up to the big day, and whether you’d try any of the above snacks when chicken and broccoli just won’t cut it.  

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