Bananas and Cramps

My good friend from Australia, Graeme Mackinnon, sent this informative and yes, funny, comment. Note: I especially like his last-sentence suggestion! Hehe… Thanks, Graeme!

“John, I watched a tennis player chewing on a banana during a game and it got me thinking. So two years ago I decided to give it a try. I quietly gave my son Robert one before a game and I watched what happened. Put it this way it did not affect him adversely, so I decided to put the rest of the team on bananas for the rest of the season.

“The team that I was coaching was not an elite squad of players and many of them you would have to say were not adonis in their physical attributes. They would eat half a banana five to ten minutes before the start of the game and then consume the other half at half time. I expect a lot from the players and I drive them in the heat of the game to go for that extra effort when the occasion arises.

“The most significant thing that I realised during the games was that NONE of my players went down with cramps even when playing in extra time. They also seemed to be able to sustain their intensity longer than had been the case prior to beginning the banana regime.

“So if you asked me I would say that the banana hype is correct.

“Maybe, John, in hindsight (it is 20/20 so they say) or as you now mount your program for next years marathon in Honkers maybe a backpack of bananas to consume during the run may help with the fatigue and cramps.

“Also it may reduce your opposition as you drop your skins behind you as you run!”

John Pages

By John Pages

I've been a sports columnist since 1994. First, in The Freeman newspaper under "Tennis Is My Game." Then, starting in 2003, with Sun.Star Cebu under the name "Match Point." Happy reading!

2 comments

  1. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

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