Olympic gold medallist Alex Yee is set to return to the London Marathon this Sunday, and he has shared insights into his training regime and diet. The 28-year-old triathlete, who claimed victory in the men's individual event at the Paris Olympics, swears by a simple yet effective food: the banana, which costs as little as 16p.
Yee's Pre-Race Routine
Yee, who ran his debut competitive marathon in 2025, already sits second on the British all-time list behind Sir Mo Farah. He revealed his pre-race routine in a 2024 interview with GQ, stating: "I have a very specific pre-race routine that I've practiced over the last 18 months of racing, which involves taking some carbs in on the bike and then a gel during the run and a few other gels during the race." He also uses a supplement called Bicarb to help with lactate, allowing him to push harder for longer.
However, Yee places great importance on reliable staple foods. "The other critical thing is having enough carbs and making sure you eat quite plain foods before the race," he added. "I'll have plain rice with some honey and banana the morning of the race." In the days leading up to the event, he sticks to plain white rice with chicken or salmon to avoid any risk of discomfort.
The Benefits of Bananas
Bananas are not just a comfort food for Yee; they also offer health benefits. Research from the University of Waterloo in Canada suggests that potassium-rich foods like bananas can help lower blood pressure. Professor Anita Layton explained: "Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt. Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium."
The study, made public in 2025, created a model examining the ratio of potassium to sodium in the human body. Doctoral candidate Melissa Stadt noted: "Early humans ate lots of fruits and vegetables, and as a result, our body's regulatory systems may have evolved to work best with a high potassium, low sodium diet. Today, western diets tend to be much higher in sodium and lower in potassium."
Yee's Marathon Journey
Yee recorded his marathon personal best in Valencia last year, with compatriot Emile Cairess pacing him to a time nearly five minutes quicker than his debut showing in London. The plan was for Cairess to return the favour in London this year, but he withdrew due to injury. Despite this, Yee will still participate as a pacemaker. Reflecting on his experience, Yee said: "It was an incredible experience to race the TCS London Marathon last year. As a Londoner, I thought I knew what to expect, but the crowds, the support and the atmosphere was more impressive than I ever imagined. Even though I won't be doing the full 26.2 miles again this year, I'm looking forward to soaking up the experience again."
