But while it is true that whole foods are key to better overall health, that doesn’t mean they work on a long run. “It doesn’t matter which food you choose to fuel yourself on long runs, as long as you meet your fuel demand,” explains Carissa Galloway, RN, an Oakland, Florida-based race announcer, certified personal trainer, and author of Run. From a whole foods perspective, carbs are in foods such as a banana, rice, a small bagel, and an apple, but the amounts differ. Still, I can’t carry my favorite pre- and post-run snack—bananas—on a long run, especially in the heat. This experiment was a rousing success for me, as I had previously not fueled on long runs because I avoid most packaged foods.