Laura Motes on the Importance of Eating Before Running a Marathon

Laura Motes

Long time runner and marathon participant Laura Motes has learned exactly how and when to eat before she runs a marathon. With many 5k runs under her belt, Motes has learned the hard way, and wants others to avoid common nutritional mistakes. According to Laura, the trick to avoiding stomach issues during a run is to start your race feeling satiated, but not full.

To do this, she says you should eat a large snack or a light meal roughly two hours before starting the race. Eating too much before a run will leave the runner uncomfortable. This can also lead to cramping, intestinal distress, nausea, and the need to use the restroom in the middle of your race. Alternatively, eating too little before a race will leave your body low on fuel. You will need that fuel to keep your muscles going during a 5k.

What you eat before a race or marathon will depend upon your pre-existing digestive status. People with known digestive issues will have other considerations, and should consult their doctor before choosing a pre-run meal. For those who have little to no digestive worries, their food choices will be pretty standard.

Laura Motes says to choose foods that are high in carbohydrates, like breads, pastas, and rices. These foods should be accompanied by a small amount of protein and as little fat as possible. This combination will give your body the proper amount of fuel to keep you going through the run or race.

Laura Motes - Why Nursing?

Laura Motes shifted careers after over 20 years working for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department to nursing because she wanted to help people in a more direct way. Motes trained with military policemen and women before she joined the police force in her community. She wanted to bring a set of skills that would help people stay safe and protected to the force. She became a Sergeant for the department and helped it sort out its many administrative and investigative tasks throughout its jurisdiction. Motes wanted to shift to the medical field because she thought that the hospital or the clinic was where most people were the most vulnerable and needed the most help.

Laura Motes

Laura Motes also knew that nursing was a rising field in of work in the United States. Now that millions more Americans have access to affordable healthcare, the need for good medical personnel at healthcare facilities has never been greater. Laura Motes wanted to join this workforce because she could help more people in a more direct fashion than ever before. While becoming a nurse requires a heavy dose of training and education, years for most aspiring nurses, Motes knows that she can be successful in this field and help people in the healthcare industry find the services they need to expand their quality of life now and in the future.

Laura Motes has helped many people already get the healthcare treatment they need by working for both the Athens Regional Medical Center and Managed Medical Transport.

Laura Motes - Honor Graduate of Military Police School

Laura Motes did whatever she could to increase her skills and abilities as a law enforcement officer. Soon after she graduated from the US Army’s Military Police School in Fort McClellan, Alabama, Motes started working for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department in the Uniform Patrol Division. After approximately 7 years in this capacity, she began to work in the Alcohol Compliance Unit/Vehicle For Hire Unit. She saw to it that taxis and other cars-for-hire were driving safely throughout her community near Athens, Georgia. Motes learned many things while she attended Military Police School, which she chose to attend to extend her understanding of tactical situations and the many nuances of civil and military law. She also wanted to be able to hold her own in any dangerous situation, and learning basic warrior training techniques helped her in this regard.

Laura Motes

The United States Army Military Police School teaches individuals how to become military police officers, of course, but it also helps other law enforcement officers and professionals like Laura Motes essential skills they can use in their careers as local officers. In Military Police Basic training, students learn how to defend themselves in dangerous situations, the differences between military and civilian law, and how to defuse potentially life-threatening conflicts as a legal arbiter. These are the sort of skills that Laura Motes has used repeatedly during her long career as a local law enforcement officer.

Laura Motes is now training to become a nurse in her community. She wanted to change careers to help people in a different way. Her training in the Military Police Basic training course suited her well for her time in law enforcement, and her ability to end conflict peaceably continues to be useful in her new career.
​

Laura Motes - Applying to Georgia Regents University

Laura Motes applied to Georgia Regents University to earn a Master’s degree in Nursing from one of the best healthcare programs in the area. Motes lives and works near Athens, Georgia, where she spent over 20 years helping the community as a police Sergeant. Motes now wants to help her community in a different way. During her career in law enforcement, she witnessed many healthcare problems causing some of the desperation that develops high crime rates in her community. Motes hopes that she can help people in need, especially those facing life-changing healthcare problems, as a nurse working with those who need medical care every day.

Laura Motes

Laura Motes applied to Georgia Regents University because its College of Nursing offered a few of the best nationally-ranked graduate programs in nursing in the United States. The school also offers online classes and study opportunities to supplement her learning on her time. The College of Nursing works closely with many other medical schools and colleges in the area and at the university on important research projects as well as traditional and service learning opportunities. Laura Motes was also drawn to the College of Nursing’s mission statement, which emphasizes being a leader in the nursing field with innovation, excellence, and entrepreneurship in areas that will help the most people in the healthcare industry.

Laura Motes wants to earn her Master’s degree in nursing beginning in the fall of 2016 so she can begin serving her community in a new way as soon as possible. Motes is excited by the prospect of protecting and serving people in a new and more direct way than ever before. Her education at Georgia Regents University is the first step.
​