This Dietitian’s Journey Led Her to the Boston Marathon Finish Line

There are many metaphors to describe the painful journey associated with completing your first marathon, but for Registered Dietician Kate Beach, her mantra was closer to a well-known slogan: just do it. A competitive runner in college, Kate took her normal 5k and 10k racing distance and just “naively” pushed it for her first marathon in 2019 at the California International Marathon in Sacramento. “I was totally not prepared,” admits Kate. “Even as a dietitian, I had no idea how much you need to eat during the race.” Fortunately, this natural misstep didn’t define Kate’s future races, even though she admits that you never truly know how your body is going to react when pushed to the limit.

It’s this understanding of the body that guides Kate as a registered dietician at Adventist Health White Memorial and allows her patients to view food as fuel or medicine for the body. It’s also important not to label foods as good or bad. “My stance is really less about weight or BMI and more around body positivity,” explains Kate. “Be aware of what you’re eating and try to eat every 3 to 4 hours.” The main goal, according to Kate, is to work with your body and know that every step is individualized and a learning process in your own journey.

Kate’s own journey led her to compete in the Boston Marathon. A historic marathon that requires a qualifying time due to the large number of runners who want to experience the race. Kate achieved a qualifying time from her very first marathon (remember the one she felt she wasn’t prepared) and joined a few local California runners who were also invited to run in Boston. For Kate, it was a lifetime dream before she even had time to dream about it. “It happened so quick; I really feel like Boston chose me. I feel so fortunate,” says Kate.

Fortunate is how we feel as well, having dedicated staff in the nutritional department like Kate who educate and inspire our patients. Our entire nutritional team at Adventist Health is committed to providing inpatient services that create healthy meal plans based on your individual needs and goals.

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