Race food!

lizsmith1976
lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
edited January 20 in Fitness and Exercise
I shopped and packed up my race food last night, my first half-ironman is Sunday! It got me wondering what other people eat for long races and long training days, and also what people DON'T eat during long events. We've probably all had to deal with GI issues... All of the items below are well-tested for me and presented no issues.

Here's mine:
Red wine (1 glass only at 5pm before race, yes, it's hard to only have 1 glass)
Dark chocolate (1 square before I go to bed the night before)
PB&J sandwiches (2 hours before race and on bike)
bananas (1 hour before race and after race)
cheddar goldfish crackers (on bike)
peanut M&Ms (on bike)
pickle pops (depending on heat of the day and sweating, before and during bike)
Gu (peanut butter flavor ONLY, during run)
lemon lime Gatorade (all events)
low fat chocolate milk (after race)

Plus of course lots and lots of water. I'll be sweating for 6-ish hours. Forecasted temp is high of 75 and low of 70. Perfect race weather for a Texan.

I saw a funny saying for triathletes - Only a triathlete would refer to a bottle of sugar water as his "nutrition".

Replies

  • Sweet_Pandora
    Sweet_Pandora Posts: 459 Member
    Have a great race!

    Karen
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    Hahaha...interesting list, Liz! If I drank wine the night before the race I'd be draggins @$$ the next day. That's why I usually only have a glass on Fri and Sat night. My prerace/pre-long training days nutrition is...nothing. I can't eat before i run or I'll throw up. I make sure to hydrate plenty the day before, but other than that I'm going in on empty. Not saying that's healthy, just saying that's what I have to do.
  • Irontri7
    Irontri7 Posts: 143 Member
    I saw you post...so I HAD to come comment :wink:

    I eat whatever I want like a madman the days before races. This year I will refine it a bit more before IM.

    Before race I eat whatever I feel like eating. I pretty much have a good stomach.

    Swim: Lake water

    Bike: Chocolate Outrage GU, PB&J (cut in quarters), Snickers, SALT TABS!

    Run: Chocolate Outrage GU, Snickers, SALT TABS, whatever they provide....

    One thing that's always important to know is what they will provide at the race as far as Gel (unless you bring enough for you to have the whole time) and gatorade/powerade, and get used to it before the race. I have an iron stomach and can take anything for liquids, but I know for some people can't handle some things. I'll be bringing my own GU's to any race because some of the stuff is just disgusting.

    Also, I would switch off of gatorade and switch to something else. GU brew is what I use. Gatorade is literally pure sugar. GU brew is a better blend, lighter taste.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    In for info and to wish you good luck!!! I'm super pumped for you.

    I have a friend who drink flat Coke during Ironman.
  • Irontri7
    Irontri7 Posts: 143 Member
    In for info and to wish you good luck!!! I'm super pumped for you.

    I have a friend who drink flat Coke during Ironman.

    That and chicken broth! Chicken broth saved me 1 year.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I take a PB sandwhich and rice crispy treats on the bike with me. As for "race food" I like clif chews, gu gels (with caffeine), and Heed in my bottles.

    Good luck this weekend!
  • sevsmom
    sevsmom Posts: 1,172 Member
    Wow! Color me impressed! When I ran my first half marathon last May, I just kinda showed up with a couple Clif energy gels in my running belt and called it a day. I'm a bit more cautious now, but I mainly focus on not eating too much meat the night before and hydrating well a few days in advance. Otherwise, I just hit it. And, thus far in my nearly 2 year running life, I've NEVER had a GI issue on a run. Now *after* the race. . . there better be a potty near by for the next 3 hours as anything may happen!! LOL

    Enjoy your race. It'll be great and you'll surprise yourself with how well you run!!
  • patrickblo13
    patrickblo13 Posts: 831 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike race my diet includes:

    Tons of water
    Gateorade
    PBJ Sandwichs
    Bananas
    Chicken during my break
    GU-any flavor
    Trailmix
    Oranges

    And a 12 pack of Smuttynose IPA in the cooler for after the race!!
  • lizsmith1976
    lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike

    Bows with inferiority complex. Afraid to mountain bike and afraid of 24 hours. Wow - kinda sounds fun though.. Maybe someday!!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike race my diet includes:

    Tons of water
    Gateorade
    PBJ Sandwichs
    Bananas
    Chicken during my break
    GU-any flavor
    Trailmix
    Oranges

    And a 12 pack of Smuttynose IPA in the cooler for after the race!!

    Awesome!!! I wish they were more popular around here.
  • denezy
    denezy Posts: 573 Member
    I do long distance bike and canoe racing. Two bite brownies, powerbar gel packs and peanut butter and jam sandwiches are my fuel of choice. Also Gatorade (which I would never drink in real life), is a must!
  • patrickblo13
    patrickblo13 Posts: 831 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike

    Bows with inferiority complex. Afraid to mountain bike and afraid of 24 hours. Wow - kinda sounds fun though.. Maybe someday!!

    I don't do it solo!!!! I see those guys and they are crazy. We usually have a 3-4 man team which averages about 6-8 hours of ride time.....nothing like flying through the woods at 3am....
  • denezy
    denezy Posts: 573 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike race my diet includes:

    Tons of water
    Gateorade
    PBJ Sandwichs
    Bananas
    Chicken during my break
    GU-any flavor
    Trailmix
    Oranges

    And a 12 pack of Smuttynose IPA in the cooler for after the race!!

    Ah yes, oranges and post race bevvies are a must!!
  • patrickblo13
    patrickblo13 Posts: 831 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike race my diet includes:

    Tons of water
    Gateorade
    PBJ Sandwichs
    Bananas
    Chicken during my break
    GU-any flavor
    Trailmix
    Oranges

    And a 12 pack of Smuttynose IPA in the cooler for after the race!!

    Awesome!!! I wish they were more popular around here.

    We do the Summer Solstice in Toronto every year....lots of fun with a really good turn out. There is one in Rochester which isn't too far from you that isn't too bad from what i hear...
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike race my diet includes:

    Tons of water
    Gateorade
    PBJ Sandwichs
    Bananas
    Chicken during my break
    GU-any flavor
    Trailmix
    Oranges

    And a 12 pack of Smuttynose IPA in the cooler for after the race!!

    Awesome!!! I wish they were more popular around here.

    We do the Summer Solstice in Toronto every year....lots of fun with a really good turn out. There is one in Rochester which isn't too far from you that isn't too bad from what i hear...

    Hmm, is it bad that I assumed he was referring to the beer?
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    When I do the 24hr mountain bike race my diet includes:

    Tons of water
    Gateorade
    PBJ Sandwichs
    Bananas
    Chicken during my break
    GU-any flavor
    Trailmix
    Oranges

    And a 12 pack of Smuttynose IPA in the cooler for after the race!!

    Awesome!!! I wish they were more popular around here.

    We do the Summer Solstice in Toronto every year....lots of fun with a really good turn out. There is one in Rochester which isn't too far from you that isn't too bad from what i hear...

    I thought they stopped running that race? Hmmm... definitely going to look into it again.
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