Fueled By Water: How C2C’s Runner Jonathan Eustache Stays Hydrated

Fueled By Water:  How C2C’s Runner Jonathan Eustache Stays Hydrated

by Lindsay Muscato

In this series, we’re writing about Haitian-American Jonathan Eustache, who’s running to raise $13,624 for C2C in the ING New York City Marathon in November.

For runner and C2C volunteer Jonathan Eustache, regular Mondays don’t exist anymore. Instead, he laces up his running shoes and runs 18 miles up and down the Belt Parkway -- a lot of exertion on what’s supposed to be a day “off” from his job. But Jonathan is squeezing in as much training as possible before the big race. Throughout the rest of the week, he’ll fit in another twelve miles or so, bringing his weekly total up to 30.

Jonathan’s energy and dedication mirrors our drive to bring vital resources to Haïti. Water is especially crucial, and every time C2C visits Haïti, we’re reminded again of our luxury here in the U.S. As Elona Dotson wrote in her earlier blog, “Every day the people in Haïti walk miles, with 5 gallon buckets in hand, sometimes up and around mountains, to get to the nearest water source and once they fill their buckets with water, they then have to walk the long way back from where they came.”

Because water and proper nutrition are a necessity for a successful marathon runner, we asked Jonathan how he does it (even in this summer’s record-breaking heat).

C2C: How much water are you drinking each day to train for this race?

JE: I try to drink at least a gallon of water a day. Try to. Lately I’ve actually been juicing fruits.

C2C: Do you have any favorite juices or smoothes?

JE: I love blackberries. There’s a blackberry protein shake that I make. Blackberries; protein powder (it's like a French vanilla cream flavor); some bananas; oranges and milk. And just a tad of brown sugar and some ice. That's it. Sometimes that's my meal for the day.

C2C: When you’re running those 18 miles, do you carry water with you?

JE: I try to have as little on me as possible. The water's in my car waiting for me. I'm waiting for the prize.

Lindsay Muscato is a writer for Community2Community (C2C).

---

Learn more:

Juice fuels the world’s top athletes, too. The New York Times writes about how beetroot and cherry juices may improve performance.

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for hydration, says Runner’s World. Check out the magazine’s recommendations for designing your own strategies to stay cool.

Wed, August 22^nd - Team C2C Run04Haiti New York City Marathon Run04Haiti

Kick-off  - 6pm @ Copia NYC, 307 East 53rd Street, NY, NY