Running is more than just putting one foot in front of the other. It’s about passion, persistence, and finding the right fuel to keep going, especially when training for races like the 20 km of Brussels (where a whole team of BENEO showed up to put their best foot forward!).

At BENEO, we’re not only passionate about developing functional ingredients like Palatinose™, but we also love seeing their usage to support real people in their performance journeys. Palatinose™ is a naturally sourced smart carbohydrate derived from sugar beet. It delivers a balanced and sustained energy release, making it ideal for endurance sports. That’s why Palatinose™ for endurance athletes is increasingly gaining attention in the world of long-distance and team sports.

To show how Palatinose™ for endurance athletes performs in real-life settings, we spoke with three BENEO runners; Charlotte Keulen (Manager Digital Marketing Communication Projects & Social Media), Ignace Hendrickx (Sales Manager BENELUX) and Lennard Gheysels (Country Manager Nordics, Baltics, IE); to hear their stories. From training routines and nutrition habits, to how Palatinose™ plays a role in their performance and recovery.

Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just getting started, we hope their insights will inspire you!

Can you tell the readers a bit more about your running background? How did your journey start?

Charlotte: Running has been a consistent hobby of mine for 10 or 15 years already. I used to run 5 km regularly, but three years ago I wanted to push myself further. I started training for 20 km distances, and last year I reached my ultimate goal: running a marathon!

Ignace: I really started running during COVID, mostly to stay active during the lockdowns. My main goal was, and still is, to build endurance so I can perform well during an entire soccer match. A good friend helped me focus on stamina, and I’ve seen big improvements on the field.

Lennard: After trying a lot of different sports, I finally found my passion in orienteering. I love the intense runs where I solely rely on my own skills of using a map and compass to navigate my way through different checkpoints. The extra challenges of a lot of elevation changes, the different surroundings of a city and the other times a dense forest area, … It’s always something different! No two runs are ever the same and that’s what keeps it exciting.

Are you currently training for a specific goal, or is it mainly about having fun and staying active?

Charlotte: I was training specifically for the 20 km of Brussels with the BENEO team! I had a knee injury, so finishing the race with a smile on my face was a big personal win.

Ignace: I’m in full preparation for the upcoming soccer season. We start at the end of July so I want to be 100% game ready by then. And more long-term after my soccer career, who knows … I might sign up for a triathlon, but those are just wild dreams at the moment. You’ll have to ask me again in a few years!

Lennard: Right now I’m training for the upcoming Euro City Race 2025. It’s an exciting orienteering competition spanned throughout 8 city races across Europe, truly an incredible experience. Last year I came out on top and was crowned as the overall winner. So this year, I’ll do everything in my power to defend my title.

Can you tell us a bit more about your nutrition on training days? Is it something you pay a lot of attention to?

Charlotte: I pay attention to nutrition on important running days, but I don’t follow strict rules every day. I make sure to fuel up enough on race days to power through, but I keep it practical and not too complicated.

Ignace: Eating enough is always a priority for me. I try to eat enough carbs and really time my meals before a game so my body can absorb all nutrients the best way possible.

Lennard: Pasta is my number 1 go to meal before an important race. I also cut back my alcohol intake. And a good breakfast? Non-negotiable. It’s always on my priority list before a performance.

Have you used Palatinose™ in your routine? And if so, what do you like about it?

Charlotte: Yes, I use it in powder form. I’ve always struggled with energy gels or snacks during runs, so being able to mix Palatinose™ into my water is a true game-changer.

Ignace: Definitely! I’m very excited that snacks with Palatinose™ are becoming more widely available so I will only increase my intake of Palatinose™. Right now, just before my soccer match starts, I try to eat a snack containing Palatinose™ to give me a boost right at the start.

Lennard: It’s my future goal to experiment more with energy gels containing Palatinose™, both before and during my performances. I want to figure out what works best for my body and how it can make a difference in running faster, longer and smarter.

Do you notice a difference if you use Palatinose™ before/during your performance versus when you don’t?

Charlotte: I have actually never ran long distances without it so I can’t make the comparison. I do have the feeling that my recovery the day after my performance goes quite fast, and I like to believe it has to do with my body getting enough energy throughout the run itself.

Ignace: For sure, I really feel more energized throughout the whole 90 minutes. Without it, my energy feels more drained towards the end of the game. So it helps me both mentally and physically to perform to the best of my ability throughout the entire match.

Lennard: Ask me again in a few months and I will be able to give you a detailed answer! But yes, the few occasions where I’ve used it, I felt more energy towards the end of the run.

Can you give any advice to runners, or other athletes, who are new to Palatinose™ or are considering adding it to their routine?

Charlotte: Just add it to your routine! It can literally only benefit you, there are no downsides to using it so why not? And one more general tip: go see a physiotherapist that can help you with your actual running journey itself. It helped me tremendously to build up my stamina and guide my body through the marathon in a healthy way.

Ignace: Not only do I really feel that my energy levels don’t drop, the other benefits should already persuade you! One of those advantages is that it’s better for your teeth. So that alone should help you to continue your running journey with a smile 😉. Plus, more and more professional teams are using it. If it works for them, it can work for you too!

Lennard: My advice would be to just try it. Everyone’s body is different, and performance is often about trial and error and writing down your findings. But in my experience, Palatinose™ is never the error.

Do you have any specific running dreams you would like to accomplish in the (far) future?

Charlotte: Running the Malaga Marathon last year was a huge personal goal, and I’m so proud I achieved it. Finishing the 20 km of Brussels with my colleagues, despite my knee injury, was also a running highlight.

Ignace: My biggest wish for the future is actually quite simple: to continue to stay healthy. I hope that in 10 years’ time, I can still work out 3 or 4 times a week and enjoy it. So taking care of my body to accomplish that is my number one ‘dream’. Plus as I mentioned before, a triathlon doesn’t sound bad but we’ll see about that!

Lennard: Good question! Running a marathon like Charlotte? Not for me. What I love about orienteering is that it’s never boring. You must find your way using the map and compass, which keeps things interesting, so not just following a specific route. But running a shorter distance like the 10 Miles with a great finishing time? That’s definitely something I would like to do.

One final question to really get to you know even more and as a fun closing question: do you have any quirky pre-race rituals?

Charlotte: Before running my first marathon in Malaga, I asked my family and friends to put their favourite songs in a playlist. So during the run, I had an absolutely amazing playlist that really kept me going throughout every kilometer! I still use the playlist to this day and it’s always fun to try and guess who put the song in the playlist.

Ignace: I just try to stay calm. I love playing soccer, so I focus on getting out of my own head and enjoying the game with my team.

Lennard: I always try to control my breathing whenever I feel stressed. Plus on top of that, I give myself peptalks. I remind myself I do these races for fun, and it’s so important to actually enjoy them. Inner peptalks for the win!

Great, thank you all so much for your insights and sharing your personal experiences!

So from long-distance goals to epic playlists and inner pep talks, it’s clear that every runner has their own rhythm. But one thing they all agree on? The right fuel matters; and Palatinose™ makes a difference.

Palatinose™ stands out for its sustained and steady energy release, helping athletes go the distance with more balanced fuel. It’s not just about performance, it’s about helping athletes feel their best throughout every step of the journey. A big thank you to Charlotte, Ignace and Lennard for sharing their experiences with us. Stay tuned for more stories, tips, and inspiration from the BENEO running community. If after reading this blog you are curious to learn more about how Palatinose™ can support your running goals, discover the science behind it here.

And who knows … maybe we’ll see your running formula soon!