Is it me or is every distance runner obsessed with the idea that they must eat pasta to run fast? Personally, I don't think pasta is that good, so I don't eat it. Is it really that beneficial...I mean, I know it has tons of carbs and all, but aren't there any other foods that are just as good for runners? Why don't we obsess about those foods like we do pasta?
Eat oatmeal (Quaker Rolled Oats, not those sugar-filled individual packets.......the plain stuff you cook on the stove).
That is probably the best source of carbs there is.
Also, cook some brown rice. Both are better choices, nutritionally, than pasta.
mmmm.... gnocchi.
i hate pasta too. very few places i will actually eat it voluntarily, and i never eat it before a race. i am also really fast and i can tell you i have not suffered in the least from not eating the stuff.
I eat okra and collard greens only.
white rice
flour, milk and eggs = pancakes
bread
the reason runners love pasta is it's easy to cook and goes with just about everything; rice is good, too, but it can take longer to prepare and is slightly more intricate than boiling some water and draining.
My favorite pre-race evening meal: Ca bong lau kho to, which is Vietnamese for Catfish in clay pot with vegetables and *lots* of white rice.
Carbo-loading isn't that great sometimes, because if you eat too much, you get lead legs, and that has very negative impact.
Try eating some protein, veggies, and a little bit of carbs the night before.
Chicken with pasta and a salad would be perfect.
you're obviously not italian
I love pasta. Even when i don't have a race coming up I look forward to the nites when i have pasta planned. i dont know how others can possibly go without.
anyone else ever eat spaghetti raw? it's pretty good to crunch on