Local foods and tasty experiences
Nutrition is an important part of endurance sport, whether you are a goal-oriented athlete or a non-professional. The race through the world-renowned tracks of Lahti and Hollola isn’t possible without proper nutrition. You should start fueling in good time before the race, on top of which you should get some energy during the race. Recovery can start when you eat something nutritious after the race.
Finlandia Ski Marathon has invested in high-quality and local foods so that every skier can enjoy the race. At Friday night’s Pasta Party, you can enjoy a plentiful salad and pasta buffet. In charge of the buffet is a local family business, Tolvanen Catering. The business makes high-quality foods from fresh ingredients and engages many locals. During the race, the service stations offer diverse snacks and drinks. For example, you can try out the Finnish Nosht Energy Chews that are produced using the latest research on stomach-friendly foods. The Energy Chews are vegan, gluten-free and suitable for FODMAP-diet and are an alternative to skiers’ own energy gels that litter the tracks.
After the race, everyone can have lunch at the Messukeskus. In charge of the lunch is Tolvanen Catering. On top of that, every skier gets a gift bag full of high-quality products, such as Fazer’s products. Fazer is a Finnish firm that has a bakery, a mill and factories in Lahti and is a significant employer in the area as well as nationwide. The local Grain Cluster produces grains for Fazer Mills.
Sufficient amount of energy is important also when you are preparing for Finlandia Ski Marathon. The closer the event is and the more you train, the bigger the need for energy. Only nutrition, rest and training together enable us to develop. Insufficient energy increases the risk of overtraining, repetitive strain injuries and sicknesses. Carbs are especially important for non-professionals as well. Another important thing is timing: you shouldn’t eat too close to the training, but during a long training you should eat something little. Hydration is also important, even in winter temperatures. Recovery can start when you have something nutritious after a training or a race. Check out our Instagram stories for snack-related content!
This article is part of Finlandia Ski Marathon’s Behind the Scenes -series, which introduces the story and background of the skiing event. Building up some new structures, responsibility actions and a versatile network of partners are interwoven as themes in Finlandia Ski Marathon in 2024.Sources:
