Runner question - What do you eat before going long?

lclarkjr
lclarkjr Posts: 359 Member
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
My fellow runners, what are some of your favorite pre-run meals to eat before your long runs each week? I'm looking for suggestions on things to try out during my training for the Honolulu Marathon. For my last two long runs I have fueled up on leftover cake because we happened to have some from a birthday party. So what do you like to eat pre-run on your long days?

Replies

  • Goal_Seeker_1988
    Goal_Seeker_1988 Posts: 1,619 Member
    I use to run, some what, anyways the trainer I ran with said she'd always eat whole wheat toast with pb and water before a big run day.

    Btw, she ran top marathons like competited for the boston!
  • Panda_Jack
    Panda_Jack Posts: 829 Member
    I use to run, some what, anyways the trainer I ran with said she'd always eat whole wheat toast with pb and water before a big run day.

    Btw, she ran top marathons like competited for the boston!

    This is actually what I eat before I do any long training.
  • Pickedlast4gym
    Pickedlast4gym Posts: 41
    Ok, congrats on the training. I eat half a banana, a slice of ezekiel bread or other wheat bread....go for the white if this bothers your system....and peanut butter! You need a 30/30/30 mix of fat and carbs and protien. I dont know how far you are youing, but you will need to take nutition somewhere after hour 1. I also eat half a bagel with sunflower butter, a waffle and some nut butter, or oatmeal and walnuts....no milk! Honolulu, me, im just doing charleston
  • karrenbennett
    karrenbennett Posts: 89
    I typically eat whole wheat toast with peanut butter every morning but on race day I eat a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and honey usually 2 hours before the race begins..

    I tend to stick with the bagel because I know it doesn't upset my stomach or slosh around while running.

    I tend to stay away from caffeine on race morning because caffeine can cause your bowels to become very active. Some people can tolerate it but not me.

    Also, I subscribe to the "Saturday's game is played on Thursday's meal" school of thought from way back when...so when doing a long run (marathon) I eat lots of high energy foods on Thursday (if my race is Saturday) or Friday (if my race is Sunday). Usually that's whole wheat pasta with some type of protein (usually chicken). I don't eat so much that I'm miserable but I do eat more than I normally would during this meal. I start hydrating on this day. Sipping water all day Thursday and Friday and then race day morning I don't drink much (because I don't want to have to make a pit-stop).

    Since I know this combination works for me I'm sticking with it.
  • millionsofpeaches
    millionsofpeaches Posts: 372
    banana...

    cereal w/ fruit...

    toast w/ peanut butter...

    chocolate...

    peanut butter and honey sandwiches...
  • becca_21
    becca_21 Posts: 100 Member
    I don't like to eat a lot before running. It really just depends on how long the run is. I've never run a marathon before, but I do imagine you should definitely fuel up before hand. I usually just eat 2 of those chilly willy things. It gives me a sugar boost and the ice keeps my body temp down. If I were you I'd eat something small like a banana or an apple with some peanut butter... but eat it like 2 or 3 hours before your run. I don't know, I just don't really eat before runs.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Fruit muffin (English muffin) with peanut butter and banana.
    And a coffee.

    Or for a shorter run a homemade mocha - skim milk, coffee, cocoa powder.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    When I was training for my marathon this spring I was eating a cliff bar about 2 hrs before running.

    But all summer I have been doing my long runs on an empty stomach, and I like it. I have only gone as far as 15 miles on that so far. But even in that distance I have not seen or felt any decrease in performance. I think this is someting that an individual can expirement with & see what they like
  • tigerbluefly
    tigerbluefly Posts: 257 Member
    I will have whole wheat or light rye toast with all natural peanut butter on it and half banana if I have some in house. Sometimes, yogurt with my toast instead of a banana.
  • lclarkjr
    lclarkjr Posts: 359 Member
    So it seems toast/bagel/muffin with peanut butter (or other nut butter) and a banana is a common theme with responses so far. This is exactly the meal I ate prior to the first marathon I ran back in May. It worked for me then so I am guessing I should go get bagels now that I am all out of cake. And I usually run on an empty stomach for runs less than 8 miles. But once I reach about 70-80 minutes, I find I perform better throughout my run as a whole if I eat something pre-run.
  • jeffrodgers1
    jeffrodgers1 Posts: 991 Member
    I usually start to carb load two evenings before with whole grain pasta's with a good meat sauce.

    But just before a half or full.... Peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole grain bread. Chocolate milk. A yogurt cup too.

    I usually chew Sports bean or Gu Chomps during the race (just a few every 20 minutes or so to sustain my energy).

    Honolulu is an amazing marathon. Take it in. Enjoy. I plan on running it again when finances allow.

    I ran it in 2009. It is among my favorite running memories. The race will kick off at 5:00 am with Fireworks over Honolulu Harbor. You'll run thru downtown Honolulu past the Iolani Palace (take pictures of Santa Hangin' Ten).

    Seeing the sun rise while you are running up Diamond Head is truly tbreathtaking. Bring a camera and catch yourself some pictures.

    One piece of dietary advice... try to not have to use the bathrooms... you'll lose at least 10-15 minutes on your time if you do.

    Good Luck... December is coming up fast!
  • maemiller
    maemiller Posts: 439 Member
    Breakfast would be whole wheat bagel or English muffin with PB and honey or Nutella and a bowl of oatmeal with coffee. Then half an hour before the gun, a gel pac.

    I'm from Hawaii and I miss it very much! My brother and his wife are running the marathon and I'm really jealous!

    have fun!
  • Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet
    Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet Posts: 486
    Peanut/almond butter and jelly on wheat or rye. Gu blocks or Gatorade during..
  • mperales00
    mperales00 Posts: 15
    One half a PB&J and a banana about 45 min before I start a long run. I also make sure to eat goo (or honey) about 45 min into the run to sustain. Good luck with your training and enjoy your race!
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