Why the Post-Race Meal Is Part of the Marathon Celebration
From finish-line snacks to pizza and brunch with friends, food has become part of the marathon experience. And it's about more than hunger.
Athletes World
• After 26.2 miles, the celebration continues at the table, where marathon runners refuel, recover and enjoy a well-earned meal after crossing the finish line.
After running 42.2 kilometres, you'd expect a marathon runner to be starving. Surprisingly, that isn't always the case.
Some runners cross the finish line exhausted, thirsty and barely interested in food, even after spending the final kilometres dreaming about pizza.
Intense exercise can temporarily suppress hunger. Research suggests that changes in appetite-related hormones can make eating less appealing immediately after a demanding workout. (Appetite, 2023)
But whether runners feel hungry or not, food has become a familiar part of the finish-line experience.
Some runners cross the finish line exhausted, thirsty and barely interested in food, even after spending the final kilometres dreaming about pizza.
Intense exercise can temporarily suppress hunger. Research suggests that changes in appetite-related hormones can make eating less appealing immediately after a demanding workout. (Appetite, 2023)
But whether runners feel hungry or not, food has become a familiar part of the finish-line experience.
