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Dina C.
Dina C. Sendmail

Long distance runners...What do you eat the morning of a race?

asked about 4 years ago | Report

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18 answers

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  • Pauline H.
    Pauline H. Sendmail

    Usually a bowl of organic oatmeal about 1-2 hours before going out. Then during the run a gel of some sort.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Kristen F.PRO
    Kristen F. Sendmail

    Depends on how long I am running. In training, I generally don't eat before running anything 13 miles and under - this is largely due to the fact that I often start running at 5AM and trying to eat really quick and hit the road is NOT a good idea. Anything above 13 miles I eat a granola bar and depending on how much above 13 miles I am going I will also eat something like 1/2 of a small bagel w/ a light coating of sugar free jelly. I have found the more important thing is making sure you eat the right things the night before and consume the correct amount of GU's while running (approximately 1 every 7 miles / hour for me.)

    The only exception to all of this is when I am running a race that starts later in the morning then I am used to starting, such as 8AM. Then I absolutely have to have a small bowl of oatmeal and/or a granola bar (again, depends on the mileage of the race.) Of course, the same rule of thumb concerning the meal the night before is applicable here as well.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Omer K.
    Omer K. Sendmail

    2 slices of toasted bread (white-flour) with honey.

    Water, obv :)

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Wenzel
    Wenzel Sendmail

    3-4 hours prior to start: 4 cans of Ensure, banana, bagel with nut butter

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Jamie W.
    Jamie W. Sendmail

    Peanut butter and jelly, either on a waffle or in sandwich form. :) Water, of course, and a cup of black tea. After half an hour of digesting, I'm good to go. I wish I was one of those people who could run without eating first, but I crash out after about 3 miles on an empty stomach!

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Eric N.
    Eric N. Sendmail

    If it is a 1/2 marathon or longer then I will usually have a bowl of cereal and some OJ a few hours before the race and then once I am parked at the race I will have some gatorade and a banana.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Debbie
    Debbie Sendmail

    If I am running 8 miles or less I can have a banana. Beyond that it is always peanut butter and jelly on whole grain bread. I use natural PB, No sugar added jelly and Natures Own 50 calorie whole grain bread so around 300 calories. I do add a banana once I am going over 12 miles. I have blood sugar issues and get very hungry. I have a GU around every 4-6 miles so often one for a 12 miler but 2 once I get beyond that. I did a half marathon yesterday on my usual breakfast including the banana and had 2 GUs. I may have been fine with one but wanted to have the energy to push the finish. I had GUs at 5 and 10 mile point.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Darrel W.
    Darrel W. Sendmail

    For races, which usually begin around 8, I'll get up 2-3 hrs early and eat a Clif Bar, Baker's B'fast Cookie, or maybe oatmeal. Then, I'll eat a gel about 15 - 30 min before the start.
    During the race, I won't eat anything for a half-marathon, but will eat a couple of gels for a marathon. I've also started drinking Hammer Perpetuem during marathons or longer.

    DW

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Caitlin T.
    Caitlin T. Sendmail

    A banana and a bowl of quaker instant oatmeal (made with water, NOT milk!) and then if I have a few hours before race still..I'll probably have part of a power bar..I can never finish a whole one

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Shannon R.
    Shannon R. Sendmail

    I totally was picking up a chocolate glazed doughnut an hour before my long runs - in addition to the 4 oz plain yogurt I had at home. My route has changed now so that isn't possible. But it was really liberating, and the sugar-carb-fat in it, honestly, I think would sustain me. I could just be telling myself that. It's the only time I'd eat a doughnut, let alone a chocolate one. I wouldn't do it for a run less than 13 miles though.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Kevin E.
    Kevin E. Sendmail

    Peanut butter on whole grain toast. Occasionally i might add a little jelly; or perhaps a banana to the snack. Depends on how long I have till the start.

    Needless to say race day is not the day to try a new and improved breakfast! Bad mojo happens.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Adam B.
    Adam B. Sendmail

    I like odwala bars before my long runs probaly an hour before

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Jimmy J.
    Jimmy J. Sendmail

    Usually I eat a good supper, and later a snack of some sort the night before. The morning of the race it's usually a cup of coffee and that's it. I ate some before my 2 Boston Marathons, but that's only because the start time was at 12:00 pm.

    I've always loved to stop somewhere and eat a good breakfast after the race before going home.
    God Bless.... +
    Jimmy.... ( :

    answered about 4 years ago |edited about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Matthew L.PRO
    Matthew L. Sendmail

    I usually just eat a banana. Maybe some Shot Bloks or a Clif bar.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Tory K.
    Tory K. Sendmail

    I have a few breakfasts that work well:

    -Oatmeal with 1 tbs peanut butter mixed in and a packet of cocoa mix (usually about 2 cups oatmeal, cooked).
    -Oatmeal muffins made with 1/2 c dry oatmeal, 1/2 brown banana, 2 egg whites, 1/4 tsp each baking soda/powder, a little spice, a splenda packet and a tbs of pumpkin. Bake for 20 min at 350 and you get two big or four small muffins that set really well before a run
    -Out of town I take a Bakers Breakfast Cookies

    Always coffee. Must have coffee. Coffee is a must...must...need more coffee. I think I'll go make some coffee!

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Jennifer H.
    Jennifer H. Sendmail

    I eat very light, water and dry cereal like cheerios. The last thing I want to do is have to go to the bathroom mid-run! I had asked Jeff Galloway about eating and race day. He said what you eat the 2 days before matters most for storage. As for day of he recommended the water and dry cereal if you really feel the need to eat something. That was a safe recommendation so as to not have any intestinal issues.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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  • Peter L.PRO
    Peter L. Sendmail

    Muscle milk shake (any flavor), bagel w/ peanut butter, bananas. Throw in some Gatorade and I'm all set. I'm a huge fan of Muscle Milk, it's really tasty and the variety of flavors it comes in is amazing.

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  • Jen L.
    Jen L. Sendmail

    Eggo waffles with peanut butter.

    answered about 4 years ago |Report

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