Alex Yee made his aggressive marathon debut in London in 2025 and will probably be on the start-line once more this yr
Alex Yee will probably be again in London Marathon motion this weekend (Picture: Getty)
This weekend’s London Marathon will see Alex Yee take to the beginning line as one of many dwelling favourites. The Olympic gold medallist has spoken about his coaching and weight loss program as he goals to maximise his efficiency in endurance occasions nevertheless it’s not nearly dietary supplements – the 28-year-old additionally depends on the common-or-garden banana to get him in race form. Yee, who gained the lads’s particular person triathlon on the Paris Olympics after an outstanding comeback, solely ran his first aggressive marathon in 2025. Nonetheless, he’s already second on the British all-time checklist behind Sir Mo Farah and will probably be again in motion in his dwelling metropolis on Sunday.
With that in thoughts, many will view Yee as somebody value listening to with regards to race preparation. He gained particular person silver and crew gold on the 2020 Olympics earlier than reeling in New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde to triumph in Paris, after which he opened up on how he will get himself in form for the problem. “I’ve a really particular pre-race routine that I’ve practiced during the last 18 months of racing, which entails taking some carbs in on the bike after which a gel throughout the run and some different gels throughout the race,” he advised GQ in 2024. “I take advantage of a complement known as Bicarb to assist with lactate that means that you can primarily push into your pink line a little bit bit longer and tougher. It’s been used for years in observe biking and rowing and actually brief, sharp occasions, however persons are beginning to discover profit inside endurance occasions.”
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may increasingly embrace adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You possibly can unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Associated articles
World’s oldest marathon runner shares the one meals he ate on daily basis
Marathon runner pays the value for celebrating too quickly in unimaginable ending
Whereas that form of optimisation comes alongside the arduous work of placing collectively a correct coaching programme, Yee additionally values his safer meals. That is the place bananas, which might value as little as 16p, come into the equation.
“The opposite essential factor is having sufficient carbs and ensuring you eat fairly plain meals earlier than the race,” he added. “I’ll have plain rice with some honey and banana the morning of the race.
“After which the times earlier than the race, I used to be having plain white rice with one protein supply – rooster or salmon or one thing like that. It’s simply secure meals with none threat of discomfort.”
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the perfect sports activities information and way more on our Fb web page
Yee moved onto marathons after successful triathlon gold in Paris (Picture: Getty)
It’s not nearly consolation, although. Bananas have been recognized as a helpful meals in serving to scale back blood stress, demonstrating their profit to everybody – not simply skilled marathoners and triathletes.
“Normally, when we’ve hypertension, we’re suggested to eat much less salt,” stated professor Anita Layton, of the College of Waterloo, Canada. “Our analysis means that including extra potassium-rich meals to your weight loss program, similar to bananas or broccoli, might need a larger constructive influence in your blood stress than simply chopping sodium.”
Scientists on the Canadian college developed a mannequin how the human physique is impacted by the ratio of potassium to sodium within the human physique, together with analyzing variations between women and men. “Early people ate a lot of vegatables and fruits, and because of this, our physique’s regulatory programs could have advanced to work greatest with a excessive potassium, low sodium weight loss program,” doctoral candidate Melissa Stadt stated within the findings, which have been made public in 2025.
“As we speak, western diets are typically a lot larger in sodium and decrease in potassium. Which will clarify why hypertension is discovered primarily in industrialised societies, not in remoted societies.”
Associated articles
London Marathon ‘set for main change’ as plans leaked weeks earlier than occasion
Sebastian Vettel confirms comeback as F1 icon enters iconic British sport occasion
Yee set his marathon private greatest in Valencia final yr when compatriot Emile Cairess paced him to a time almost 5 minutes faster than his debut exhibiting in London. He was attributable to return the favour on dwelling soil this yr after being introduced because the pacemaker and can nonetheless run regardless of Cairess pulling out via damage.
“It was an unimaginable expertise to race the TCS London Marathon final yr,” Yee stated after being confirmed for the 2026 version. “As a Londoner, I believed I knew what to anticipate, however the crowds, the help and the ambiance was extra spectacular than I ever imagined. Though I gained’t be doing the complete 26.2 miles once more this yr, I’m trying ahead to absorbing the expertise once more.”
Leave a Reply