Best Pre-5k Meal?

itsCheek

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!

JUDDDing

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.

itsCheek

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

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

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!