Best Pre-5k Meal?

itsCheek
itsCheek Posts: 104
in Food and Nutrition
I have a 5k tonight around 7PM, and I usually eat "dinner" around 4:30PM.

What's the best pre-race meal to have?
BTW, I am a vegan, so no meat please!

Replies

  • JUDDDing
    JUDDDing Posts: 1,367 Member
    I'd just have a snack around 5pm.

    IMO, a 5k doesn't take too much attention to fuel.

    Your biggest risk is that a big meal will still be in your stomach and cause cramping. So, I'd just eat a snack around 5 and then another after your run.

    Maybe a handful of nuts or trail mix or something similar.

    ETA: I usually run "races" in the morning and have a donut and a chocolate milk - no one else in the world seems to think this is a good pre-race meal though. :D
  • itsCheek
    itsCheek Posts: 104
    Well, I am going to be hungry for a meal at 4:30 because of my body/tummy clock...I don't think nuts are gonna cut it. I usually have a Lean Cuisine, but would something like oatmeal be better?
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Have whatever you normally have. I run 5k at least 3 times a week after work without eating anything. A 5k is 30 minutes out of your life, it doesn't require special fueling.
  • ameliaannakin
    ameliaannakin Posts: 344 Member
    I agree with JUDDDing, I would just have a snack before you run. I tend to go for dried fruit or a banana. If you do want something more, toast and peanut butter maybe? I always run in a morning though too and if I am doing a 5k, I don't tend to eat before. My rule is more than an hour have a banana but then again, I ran a marathon on a banana and a slice of toast with peanut butter, oh and 9 dried apricots on the way round, which probably isn't the best pre-race meal either!

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