What do you eat the morning before a race?
Replies
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Thanks for all the great responses and ideas! I usually run fasted, but I've noticed as the distances get longer I tend to hit a wall around the 10 mile mark. I'm hypoglycemic which is why I was concerned a bit about sugar... i'm just finally getting a hang of basic nutrition so this is all new to me lol. I still don't quite understand it, but have noticed protein makes the feeling go away longer. I've been eating mostly high protein diet to combat the symptoms so I wasn't sure if that would work before a race.... I used to carbo load for swimming. I used to swim long distances and do triathlons but those movements never bothered my stomach and I could eat anything, for some reason with the running long distances my stomach just gets all in knots. I might try this one fasted, but next is a full marathon and i'm worried I won't be able to make it without breakfast.
I agree that it is 100% individual. I liked to eat a Lenny and Larry cookie and a zero cal Monster before a long run.
If you have success running fasted, then start your race that way. At mile 7 or 8, try something that is mostly sugar - small cup of gatorade, GU, a handful of jelly beans or a glucose tablet. I'd That is also very individual though. I can't eat or drink while I run, but it works for some people.
Try this before the race, not on the day of! Best of luck with your run!0 -
Definitely practice eating something before and during your long runs now, so you can figure out what works and what doesn't. Hitting the wall during a half would just mean bonking, running out of energy and having to walk the last couple of miles. Hitting the wall for real, during a marathon, is a lot more serious It means total depletion of glycogen and can end up with you unconscious on the road. You really want to avoid that.1
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I have oatmeal with fresh blueberries and real orange juice. No stomach issue even 30 mins before0
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Hi y'all,
I'm trying to figure out what I should eat 30 minutes to an hour before my half marathon next week. I've been experimenting and so far it hasn't gone well let's just say. Last week I tried a tbsp of peanut butter on toast an hour before I ran 12 miles and around the 10 mile mark my stomach had some issues. What are some other things I could try? I bought a banana this week and made Rice Krispie treats, would either of those be too much sugar right before a run? Maybe oatmeal? I apologize for my ignorance... nutrition is not my strong point. Curious to see what others eat!
Thanks!
My stomach is sensitive..this is what works for me.
I carb load for five to seven days up to race day - whole wheat, brown rice, sweet potato. It builds up glycogen for long runs.
Race day liquid carbs no food. I'm not pluging this product. I'm useing Cytocarb. It's powder form. mix with water.
I add liquid carbs to my hydration vest to sip while I'm running. If I need a boost. I can tolerate a banana from a route station.
Hope you find what works for you.
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If it's early in the morning I go fasted. I'm just not hungry in the mornings.
I do make sure I ate well the day before, I hydrate beforehand and I bring a couple of homemade protein bars with me.
Then I'll enjoy a big breakfast afterwards. 😋4 -
Thank you all again for your great suggestions!i did my 12 miles this morning fasted with just a gu in the middle and it worked perfect. Never had a gu before though lol, chocolate syrup in the middle of a run is not as appetizing as it sounds but it did the trick and my tummy was fine ! 😊4
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Thank you all again for your great suggestions!i did my 12 miles this morning fasted with just a gu in the middle and it worked perfect. Never had a gu before though lol, chocolate syrup in the middle of a run is not as appetizing as it sounds but it did the trick and my tummy was fine ! 😊
Salted caramel GU is amazing!3 -
What works for me is breakfast 3 hours before a race, and rice with honey fits me best.
An hour or 30mins before, I have a protein/energy bar. No fruit because fiber. No oats either, on race day they always give me issues. I can have them before regular long runs though.
Good luck!
I'm running a 22k tomorrow. Yay!2 -
Dessilicious wrote: »What works for me is breakfast 3 hours before a race, and rice with honey fits me best.
An hour or 30mins before, I have a protein/energy bar. No fruit because fiber. No oats either, on race day they always give me issues. I can have them before regular long runs though.
Good luck!
I'm running a 22k tomorrow. Yay!
Good luck and have fun!!!0 -
I personally make sure to have 0 chocolate for two days before a race.
Otherwise, it's a wonderful experiment. You will become ever more of an expert as you listen to your body and grow that mind - body connection.0 -
Exactly what you eat when you train.1
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BecMarty14 wrote: »I personally make sure to have 0 chocolate for two days before a race.
Otherwise, it's a wonderful experiment. You will become ever more of an expert as you listen to your body and grow that mind - body connection.
What now?
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BecMarty14 wrote: »I personally make sure to have 0 chocolate for two days before a race.
Otherwise, it's a wonderful experiment. You will become ever more of an expert as you listen to your body and grow that mind - body connection.
What now?
That's similar to my reaction. I had a GF chocolate lava cake the night before my last half (last week) and smashed my stretch goal.1 -
BecMarty14 wrote: »I personally make sure to have 0 chocolate for two days before a race.
Otherwise, it's a wonderful experiment. You will become ever more of an expert as you listen to your body and grow that mind - body connection.
The cereal I usually have on race day is chocolate. PBed my race by 3 and a half minutes... I totally blame the chocolate! :laugh:2 -
TavistockToad wrote: »BecMarty14 wrote: »I personally make sure to have 0 chocolate for two days before a race.
Otherwise, it's a wonderful experiment. You will become ever more of an expert as you listen to your body and grow that mind - body connection.
The cereal I usually have on race day is chocolate. PBed my race by 3 and a half minutes... I totally blame the chocolate! :laugh:
Shame on you!!! LOL!0 -
The problem could be that you’re eating 30mins before a long run. We’re all different but you may just be finding you just need to eat earlier.
I tend not to do anything different from usual mealtimes, maybe a flapjack or something if I’m feeling low on energy.1 -
just had the salted caramel gu...wow that was good
one of my favorites without caffeine is the strawberry kiwi1 -
rainbow198 wrote: »If it's early in the morning I go fasted. I'm just not hungry in the mornings.
I do make sure I ate well the day before, I hydrate beforehand and I bring a couple of homemade protein bars with me.
Then I'll enjoy a big breakfast afterwards. 😋
@rainbow198 . . I thought PR was an acronym for personal record . . actually means "pancake record" the post-race breakfast feast. LOL2 -
As already noted by others... nothing new on race day!
Before a half I Generally eat pb or almond butter on toast. Or Nutella on cinnamon raisin bread with a banana. Or A clif bar. Or A bagel. Always accompanied by NUUN rehydration tablet in my water. Honeystinger gummies for during the run. I am definitely NOT one of those people that can do a long run in an empty stomach!0 -
for me, I usually don’t eat before running to train. This is what I’m accustomed to and then I do t have the urge to go to the bathroom. For an actual run, I will eat a banana ahead of time to prevent or minimize muscle cramps. If a banana isn’t enough for you, then perhaps some small amount of oatmeal or granola that might stick to your ribs and help you prevent stomach cramps.1
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Hi y'all,
I'm trying to figure out what I should eat 30 minutes to an hour before my half marathon next week. I've been experimenting and so far it hasn't gone well let's just say. Last week I tried a tbsp of peanut butter on toast an hour before I ran 12 miles and around the 10 mile mark my stomach had some issues. What are some other things I could try? I bought a banana this week and made Rice Krispie treats, would either of those be too much sugar right before a run? Maybe oatmeal? I apologize for my ignorance... nutrition is not my strong point. Curious to see what others eat!
Thanks!
I generally can't eat within 1-2hours before a long run. If I have a run scheduled for say 10am, I'll have a bowl of oats with yoghurt, berries, banana and nuts at about 6.30am. Then I have Percy Pigs and shot bloks during the run and stuff my face after.1 -
Hi y'all,
I'm trying to figure out what I should eat 30 minutes to an hour before my half marathon next week. I've been experimenting and so far it hasn't gone well let's just say. Last week I tried a tbsp of peanut butter on toast an hour before I ran 12 miles and around the 10 mile mark my stomach had some issues. What are some other things I could try? I bought a banana this week and made Rice Krispie treats, would either of those be too much sugar right before a run? Maybe oatmeal? I apologize for my ignorance... nutrition is not my strong point. Curious to see what others eat!
Thanks!
Personally I generally camp at races, so for an 0830 race start I'll get up at 0600 and boil up enough water for a couple of pots of ready made porridge, a banana, apple and a couple of cups of coffee. During the race briefing I'll have a gel.
I carry two 500ml bottles of tailwind as well.1 -
I get terrible runners runs so for any race (or indeed any cardio) I don’t eat beforehand.1
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I do oatmeal before a race along with sips of some gatorade or some other sports drink. I crack open a bag of skittles and pop a few before a race and eat ~1 each mile just for something to look forward to and pace-setting. Clif Blocks are really nice on the run and easy digested/high calorie.1
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I do oatmeal before a race along with sips of some gatorade or some other sports drink. I crack open a bag of skittles and pop a few before a race and eat ~1 each mile just for something to look forward to and pace-setting. Clif Blocks are really nice on the run and easy digested/high calorie.
Oh, I like that Skittles thing. I'm going to try this.0 -
I vote for oatmeal with maple syrup 60-90 min before. Definitely test it in training.
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I drink lots and lots of water the day before so that I don't have to drink much in the morning before the race. Before running, I eat a banana with peanut butter. Gotta have some energy but not a full stomach. I've been able to run several half marathons that way and not have any gels along the way. They make me too thirsty.0
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