Sample of what you eat the night before/ day of race!

[kappyfamily]

Thought it might be a good idea to get a list of "samples" that runners eat the night before as well as the morning before a half! I know it is a very personal thing, so what works for one might not work for another.... This is just to give ideas to the newbies like me to be trying on long runs before my first half!

Example I'm trying out this week:
Night before- noodles with garlic, butter, and grilled chicken/ a bunch of water all day

Morning of- half a bagel with peanut butter and banana with more water


Would love your thoughts and ideas!
Thanks, michele

 

[MikeofRose&Mike]

Night Before: Grilled Chicken Salad has worked on several occasions.

A couple of races I've had a ice cream for dinner.


Morning: Typically very light. A banana at home since running is 10-20 minutes after eating. Have also had a hard boiled egg before the Disney races, there is more time before them.

I try to avoid bread.

Mike

 

[FFigawi]

Night before: miso soup, sashimi, sushi, and a side of steamed rice

Morning of: chocolate chip Clif Bar

 

[Rose&Mike]

Night before: hard boiled egg, hummus, tostitos scoops and ice cream (usually chocolate or vanilla)

Morning--hot water (settles my stomach), Lara bar or Luna protein bar, peanut butter and g-f pretzels before a disney race since it is such a long wait.

I don't eat gluten--my stomach is much happier running now than it was before!

 

[bellerunner]

Night before- Five Guys Burger and Fries. Lots of water all day.

Day of race- typically an Egg McMuffin or Dunkin Donuts breakfast sandwich, but I've been having success with a bagel with peanut butter. Banana or something light about an hour before the start. Lots of water.

 

[windwalker]

I find that it's more important to have some food a few hours before the race than what I eat the night before the race. Except that I don't recommend anything very spicey.

Race morning breakfast of choice is: bowl of special k cereal, with a banana cut up on top and skim milk, a bagel toasted with a little real butter and coffee. I don't drink for the last couple of hours before the race starts but I take a cup of the sports drink at every water station.

Dave

 

[liznboys]

I did the half and the relay at marathon weekend and this is what I ate:

Friday night: Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. I had the bacon wrapped meatloaf with mashed potatoes and onion straws and water. Later that night before bed I had some of the Mickey gingerbread boy I got at Goofy's, a Mickey ice cream bar and some milk.

Saturday morning: at the POP food court I had a bowl of corn flakes (one of those tiny ones..wish they were bigger!), yogurt, a hard boiled egg and milk. Then in my corral right before the start I ate another hard boiled egg and a Luna bar, and I sipped on a bottled water.

Saturday night: Dinner at Raglan Road. I had a burger and fries and water. Then before bed I had worms and dirt, more of my Mickey gingerbread boy and milk.

Sunday morning I did the exact same thing as Saturday morning.

I seem to need more food than most people. During my previous halfs my stomach would be growling around mile 10. These two races it didn't growl until mile 11, so I'm getting better!

Oh, and during my races I eat Clif Shot Blocks and drink water.

 

[kappyfamily]

I'm noticing a trend of red meat the night before.... I always thought it was chicken that everyone ate? Hmmm, may give that a try. I like the idea of hard boiled eggs too.

this is awesome!

 

[MrsDuck]

Great thread! I'm a newbie runner and really appreciate the ideas.

Thanks!

 

[K80K]

The night before the race I try not to do anything out of the ordinary, but also try to keep things on the blander side. Typically a steak and a potato or chicken and a potato. I have had a couple bad experiences with red pasta sauces and now just avoid pasta in general as it tends to weight me down.

The morning of I do the same thing I do for long run days. Water, a little gatorade (whatever doesn't fit in the bottle I am running with), an english muffic with PB&J and a banana.

 

[EddieMccoy2]

I usually eat 12 hours before a race, and I usually have Pizza or wraps and Ice Cream for desert.

Morning, about an hour before the race I have a bagel and powerade. It's worked like a charm for me so far, so no need for me to change at this point.

 

[SAHDad]

Night before a race - nothing new, typically pasta or a burger and fries. Nothing super-heavy.

Morning of - typically, not much. for a half, I might not eat anything before the race. I have been known to consume a Boost (or equivalent) and a granola bar or the like. (I have been known to eat Twizzlers or other candy before a race too. I'll just burn it off, right?)

During the race - up to a half, I might have nothing other than water. I can use Gu, beans, blocks, etc, and use them for a full, but I generally don't take much of anything on the course. On an ultra, I avoid Gu, and eat the cookies, pretzels, etc that they put at the aid stations.

Now, post-race? The longer the race, the more I eat. After a full, I'll eat a full meal within a couple of hours. And then another a couple of hours later. And another a few hours after that. And probably one more before sleeping.

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

Interesting thread!

Night before varies a lot. Chipotle is a favorite of mine if there's one around. Before the Tinker Bell half I split a side salad and pasta. When I'm at home, I'll generally have white rice and some type of stir fry.

Morning of is always the same. I have a Clif bar one hour before the race, and a GU 15 minutes before.

 

[dcr]

Carb loading is one of those urban myths that just won't die. The reason is that the pre-race pasta party is a big money maker!

Nothing that you eat 24 hours before a race can help you, but it can hurt you. The best thing to do is snack all day before the race. Go back to your training. What did you eat the day before, and the morning of your longest training runs? Eat the same way for the race.

The same goes for fuel. If you used gels, then use gels on the course, but don't try something for the first time, just because it's the only thing offered on the course. If gummy bears got you through 13 or 26 mile training runs, then bring gummy bears!

Derek

 

[johde]

For me, most of the time, the night before has been the traditional pasta. I've done either spaghetti or lasagna. The night before the DL half marathon, I had a ham and cheese sandwich from La Brea Bakery. The morning of a long race I tend to do oatmeal a couple of hour before the race starts.

 

[StarGirl11]

Evening: Noodles, marinara, and shrimp along with some bread.

Morning: Depending on location of race. If I can find a restaurant open the morning of the race I'll get some pancakes and eggs. If not usually I've packed home made food (banana bread and muffins) that I will usually have a few of before heading off to the start.

 

[1slowdaddy]

The day or 2 before a race I decrease the fiber and increase the starch to decrease GI issues: no beans, onions, etc.

About 2 hours prior to the race, I eat a banana or 1/2 PBJ, and finish with a chocolate mint Clifs bar about 20 minutes prior to start. It's worked well.

 

[slp1650]

I don't really change my diet and I especially won't now because I've been eating better than I have in a long, long time. The day before will have lots of water and balanced meals, probably lots of fruit and veggies as well.

The morning of is actually where my bad habit kicks in. I don't eat before my race... I didn't when I swam, I didn't when I competed in triathlons and while I'm trying to change that for running, I haven't been able to shake it completely. I also train that way, where I run 1st then come back and eat so it's not like I'm completely shocking my body. I am getting better though. I'll get some blocks and have one or two of those, or a banana. It's still not a lot, but it's something.

 

[kmg148]

I get SO hungry on long runs, even when I eat before, so I tend to eat a lot. It also depends what time I am running. I usually run at night or afternoon, so I usually have some combination of a banana, Pria energy bar, toast, oatmeal, ham and cheese bagel, fried eggs or waffles. I try to avoid anything that's greasy or has lots of dairy. It just doesn't sit well with me!