China Daily Online, November 28 Recently, reporters learned from the marathon organizing committee that all slots for the full and half marathons of the 13th Xiamen International Marathon, which will start on January 3 next year, have been fully booked and no further registrations will be accepted. According to the organizing committee, unlike previous editions, this year’s event will feature a strategic partnership with professional sports nutrition provider Compat, which will offer participants comprehensive professional sports nutrition guidance throughout the race journey starting from the registration date.
Strong registration interest prompts organizers to ensure quality services
The new definition of wealth is no longer about driving a luxury car, but running marathons around the world. Despite a scaled-down event, the Xiamen Marathon still couldn’t resist the enthusiasm of running enthusiasts. The 13th edition will only feature full and half marathons. According to data from the organizing committee, athletes from 22 countries and regions have registered so far, and all 45,000 available slots have been filled.
Meanwhile, race support measures are being steadily advanced. It is understood that the event will follow international standards by setting up hydration stations every five kilometers, primarily offering sports drinks and mineral water. Considering that five kilometers is a long stretch, additional stations with mineral water and sponges will be placed every 2.5 kilometers. For sports nutrition guidance, the organizers and Compat’s Outdoor Running Division have developed a detailed plan. After registration, athletes will receive phased pre-race sports nutrition guidance, and a Xiamen Marathon sports nutrition education column will be established. In line with sports nutrition replenishment principles, athletes will be advised to consume an Outdoor Energy Bar 30 minutes before the race. Notably, a trial running group supported by Compat’s Outdoor Running experts will be formed, providing amateur runners with a series of professional nutrition guidance based on international competition standards.
Zhang Sijie, head of the Xiamen Marathon Market Development Department, told reporters: “Marathon events have higher requirements for support services compared to other sports, so the organizing committee has prioritized this aspect. This includes selecting partners based on their ability to provide professional support services to participants.”
Are you really ready to run the Xiamen Marathon?
For many amateur enthusiasts, running a marathon is a statement of lifestyle, but adequate preparation is essential to successfully complete the planned course. Zhu Lianjun, a senior nutritionist for Outdoor Energy Bars, told reporters. Although marathon training relies on regular accumulated exercise, proactive adjustments and peak condition preparation before the race remain crucial. Zhu recommends maintaining about 40 minutes of training per day for the three days leading up to the race, covering 8–10 kilometers each time. However, warm-up and cool-down routines before and after exercise should not be neglected, with each lasting around 30 minutes.
Studies show that during high-intensity competitions, it is difficult to achieve proper nutrition replenishment and physical recovery through conventional means alone, making professional nutritional health products necessary. Zhu Lianjun explained that in marathon running, athletes must address two key issues to perform at their best: fluid replenishment and energy maintenance. Insufficient intake of water, minerals, vitamins, and other elements can slow down metabolic functions, raise body temperature, accelerate muscle contractions, and in severe cases, lead to electrolyte imbalance, ultimately affecting race performance. The current sports nutrition support plan for the Xiamen Marathon aligns with fundamental sports nutrition theories and follows international professional event practices.
In fact, Compat has long provided sports nutrition foods and professional technical services to national athletes and fitness enthusiasts, earning the reputation as the “nutritionist for China’s national teams.” In early 2005, Compat collaborated with the Chinese government to establish sports nutrition food standards, becoming one of the key contributors to both industry and national standards. Additionally, Compat developed the “National Marathon Team Nutrition and Diet Guide,” offering theoretical and material support for marathon athletes to achieve outstanding results.
Expert insight: Is it healthy to eat while running?
There was once a belief that eating before exercise could affect digestion. Yang Zeyi, chairman of the Sports Nutrition Food Branch of the China Food Science and Technology Society and Compat’s chief sports nutrition expert, argues that ultra-endurance activities like marathons require super-recovery, which relies heavily on the intervention of sports nutrition and diet. Therefore, nutrition and energy intake before and during exercise are critically important.
Yang Zeyi explained to reporters that dietary nutrition is central to maintaining the stamina of marathon runners. “Diet is the most critical material foundation for ensuring athletes’ nutritional needs and stamina. Imbalances in an athlete’s diet can directly impact race outcomes,” said Yang. Marathon is an ultra-long distance, periodic speed event where winning depends on completing the course in the shortest time possible. As such, it demands both endurance and a certain level of speed. Proper nutrition intake can replenish energy, enhance muscle strength, boost metabolic levels, and help maintain optimal racing conditions.
Moreover, appropriate energy replenishment during exercise is also vital. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) recommends consuming sugar-containing electrolyte drinks in all races over 10 kilometers to supply sufficient water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes to compensate for energy loss and sweat.
For marathon participants, when running for 75 minutes or less, the body primarily consumes stored glycogen, and proper intake of water and sports drinks suffices. Yang Zeyi particularly warns that once running exceeds this duration, the body depletes its glycogen reserves and muscle energy, leaving athletes feeling extremely fatigued. Therefore, consuming carbohydrates during the run helps stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing total exhaustion.
“During running, blood flow is concentrated in the skeletal muscles, reducing digestive capacity in the stomach and intestines. Thus, it is not advisable to consume hard-to-digest foods. Athletes should opt for easy-to-eat professional sports nutrition energy bars, gels, or drinks, consuming them every 40–50 minutes in portions of about 25g each. Drinking should also be done in small sips to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort,” said Yang Zeyi. (Text by Xu Yitong)