Fuelling the final stretch: how Cronometer is powering a Boston qualifier with precision nutrition
The halfway point for Toronto runner Tony Wu‘s lead up to October’s Toronto Waterfront Marathon has come and gone–and Wu couldn’t be more excited. With just under two months to go, the training is hitting its most crucial stretch, but luckily, nutrition tracking app Cronometer has been there to make it that much simpler.
“As my training gets more intense, with longer sessions, I can monitor my nutrition and adjust accordingly,” he said. The app also allows him to easily see trends over the past week or month, which will be useful for attributing any changes in his training and energy levels with nutrition adjustments.
Up to this point, Wu says the daily guide and report features in Cronometer have been the most useful. “My reports summaries break down protein, carbs and fat–it’s definitely what I check most now,” he said. Cronometer also connected Wu to a performance dietician to set up macronutrient targets for optimal training and performance. “Every log in Cronometer is powered by lab-verified nutrient data, so I know I’m not just tracking calories,” the runner added. “I’m tracking the details that fuel endurance and recovery.
Wu admits he is starting to feel the accumulated training fatigue as he enters the final push toward race day. “The next months are going to be the hardest–and the most crucial–part of training,” he said. But he isn’t surprised–he’s no marathon rookie. “It’s a bit harder mentally to see focus with changes in my personal life and in my training plan–for example, training on my own instead of with a group. The motivation is not quite there at times, but luckily, it’s only for a little bit.”
Energy levels
Like many endurance athletes, Wu initially found he wasn’t fuelling enough. “With Cronometer, I realized I was significantly underfuelling before, during and after my runs,” he said. “Once I started to take more carbs, my performance improved. I’ve been able to sustain harder efforts, and I don’t feel as depleted afterward. I also feel less fatigued the following day.”
But staying on top of nutrition isn’t always easy, especially on busy days. “It varies from person to person, but for me, it’s challenging to eat enough at times,” he said. “Some days, higher stress from work–or just being focused on other things–has me not thinking about food. I’ve found ways to add carbs–honey or dried fruit–to meals I already eat.” For Wu, Cronometer is an easy reminder that to sustain such a high level of activity, fuelling is critical to his performance.
Chasing Boston: this Toronto runner is training smarter with Cronometer
Managing plantar fasciitis
Three weeks ago, Wu began dealing with plantar fasciitis, which he attributes to overuse and lack of foot strength. “I luckily didn’t have to change much in my training,” Wu admitted. “I’ve just been more consistent with stretching and strengthening my feet and calves, and trying to keep up with general strength training when I can–which is easier said than done when balancing training, nutrition, and life.”
Despite the injury, Wu remains confident. “I am mindful of trying not to overdo it,” he said. “Apps like Cronometer really help with monitoring the nutrition aspect of this training block, and I’m pretty sure it’s made me a more resiliant athlete.” It’s not like the injury stopped him from participating in late August’s “electrifying” On Toronto Squadrace, a 4x800m community relay race and party with more than 80 teams participating.
Whether you’re chasing a marathon goal or building everyday fitness, Cronometer helps you fuel smarter, recover faster, and reach your potential with confidence. Start tracking today and see how precision nutrition powers performance.
