How to eat breakfast before Boston?

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

With only a few weeks left before the Boston Marathon, I am going into OCD mode and am worried I am not planning the right amount/timing of breakfast beforehand since it has a late start. I'll be in wave 2, so won't start until after 10:20 or so.

I am used to eating breakfast 1-2 hours before I run and that has consisted of 1/2 cup (before cooked) plain oatmeal, a banana, about 1/2 cup almond milk and a cup of coffee with Stevia and

Weird. Not sure why that got cut off, but the rest should say:

...less than 1/4 cup of low-fat milk.

Then I take a GU every 5-6 miles during any run over 10 miles.

The following article says to eat what I'd consider 3 breakfasts, which seems excessive, but if it gets me through without cramps, I am willing to try (in practice first of course).

Since it's RW, I need LetsRun's thoughts on that:

I've done Boston a handful of times, and frankly I just push everything back 2 hours from my normal routine. So basically just sleep in a bit. Then just have a granola bar or whatever your go to munchy is for the bus ride and hanging out in the AV in case you get hungry. Doesn't require any major changes.

I'm confused by the article. It's not clear 1) where the "general rule" comes from and 2) if they are accounting for GUs eating during the run. In other words should a 130 pound person eat 195 grams in addition to GUs or should a 130 pound person eat 195 grams, counting GUs.A Gu has 22 grams of carbs so if you eat 4 of those than presumably you only need an additional 100 grams of carbs prior to running.Either way the article is vague and I wouldn't change a routine that works based on a read of it. Keep doing what you're doing before your long runs, assuming A) you do the same thing before each long run and B) that it works.

From Runners World:

Remember, the general rule is to consume approximately 0.5 grams of carbohydrate for every pound of body weight, and then multiply that number by the number of hours you have before you will begin your run.

So let’s imagine that you weigh 130 pounds, and you have three hours before show time.

130lbs x 0.5 = 65

65 x 3 hours = You need to eat approximately 195 grams of carb to carry you from Hopkinton to Boylston Street

http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-for-runners/how-to-fuel-for-the-boston-marathon

Yeah, I echo what the poster above me says. Just eat your normal breakfast at the number of hours before your race you usually do. Then bring some easily digestible snacks for the bus ride and wait out there. Just because it's Boston doesn't mean you should do anything "special" or "different" from your usual routine.

And as I'm sure you've heard a million times before, chill the first 16 or so miles. It's really easy to get carried away by the crowds and course over the first 2/3 of the race. Save a lot for miles 17.5 to the finish. And be ready for a nasty downhill coming off the backside of Heartbreak Hill. It can be a quad-buster if you're not ready for it.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

Why don't you practice your new breakfast time during your taper week? Simple.

imarunr wrote:

Yeah, I echo what the poster above me says. Just eat your normal breakfast at the number of hours before your race you usually do. Then bring some easily digestible snacks for the bus ride and wait out there. Just because it's Boston doesn't mean you should do anything "special" or "different" from your usual routine.

And as I'm sure you've heard a million times before, chill the first 16 or so miles. It's really easy to get carried away by the crowds and course over the first 2/3 of the race. Save a lot for miles 17.5 to the finish. And be ready for a nasty downhill coming off the backside of Heartbreak Hill. It can be a quad-buster if you're not ready for it.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

I would say, dinner the night before is more important. If the taper went well, your body should be fully "loaded". TX, I predict a big PR for you. You will run 3:11 this year. Have fun.

I ran Boston in 2013 and had a terrible race, full of cramping, which is why I am extra paranoid about fueling this time. I have run flat marathons and done okay, but still have not mastered the final 10K without bonking a little bit.

Not sure a "big" PR is on the docket for this course, but I think as long as I don't cramp up/walk like I did in '13, I am definitely in PR shape. I think a conservative goal is sub-3:20, but I would be happy just to feel like I ran the course well.

always been in wave 1, when it an be difficult to find food. In one hotel I was on the road before they start serving breakfast and just settled for bananas and bars that I picked up the day before.

Afterwards I started staying at a hotel adjacent to a dunkin donuts. Egg bagel sandwich is a hearty start. They serve oatmeal too.

Been there Too wrote:

always been in wave 1...

I didn't exactly get to pick considering my qualifying time was 3:27. For an indication of my current shape, I ran a 1:32:41 half last month in the midst of marathon training (no taper), so assuming that converts to 3:15-3:20 range ideally. However, for an indication of how bad this could go, I ran 3:59 at Boston 2013 when I was in 3:30 shape at that time.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I ran Boston in 2013 and had a terrible race, full of cramping, which is why I am extra paranoid about fueling this time.

don't eat fiber for breakfast then. Or the night before. It gives you gas.

You might not notice most of the time, but when you run, it gets agitated, rises and causes a side stitch.

Bad Wigins wrote:

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I ran Boston in 2013 and had a terrible race, full of cramping, which is why I am extra paranoid about fueling this time.

don't eat fiber for breakfast then. Or the night before. It gives you gas.

You might not notice most of the time, but when you run, it gets agitated, rises and causes a side stitch.

I should have been more specific. The cramping was in my legs, not stomach.

I had severe cramping in my legs last year as well. I attribute it to the heat. I had sweat dripping off the back of my head by 5k...at a slow pace!...Plenty of long runs at specific pace last year and this year as well. I plan on bringing electrolyte tablets if I get any inkling of cramps (gatorade upsets my stomach).

Either do your normal routine 1-2 hours before your start OR:

Eat somewhat more 2-3 hours before the race.

And chill.

Open your mouth and chew.

No tx, I have seen your past results (FB friend) ,You can do really well, hopefully you have a tailwind day. Let "13" go , has nothing to do with your current form. Let the PR happen. The PR will happen because you earned it with the last few months of training. cheers

Can't speak to the RW article but personally I eat 400-500 cal (gatorade, oatmeal and/or part of a blueberry or banana nut muffin, maybe part of a protein bar) at the hotel before I head to the bus. I take a banana or a cliff bar on the bus ride, may take a GU just before the start.

I'm usually about 122 lbs. on race day.

imarunr wrote:

Yeah, I echo what the poster above me says. Just eat your normal breakfast at the number of hours before your race you usually do. Then bring some easily digestible snacks for the bus ride and wait out there. Just because it's Boston doesn't mean you should do anything "special" or "different" from your usual routine.

And as I'm sure you've heard a million times before, chill the first 16 or so miles. It's really easy to get carried away by the crowds and course over the first 2/3 of the race. Save a lot for miles 17.5 to the finish. And be ready for a nasty downhill coming off the backside of Heartbreak Hill. It can be a quad-buster if you're not ready for it.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

+1

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

With only a few weeks left before the Boston Marathon, I am going into OCD mode and am worried I am not planning the right amount/timing of breakfast beforehand since it has a late start. I'll be in wave 2, so won't start until after 10:20 or so.

I am used to eating breakfast 1-2 hours before I run and that has consisted of 1/2 cup (before cooked) plain oatmeal, a banana, about 1/2 cup almond milk and a cup of coffee with Stevia and

It's a marathon, not Nathan's hot dog eating contest.

I would use a spoon unless the oatmeal is really thick. A fork might work then.