What to eat before a race?

Morning race? Oatmeal, banana, almond milk, coffee. About 1.5-2 hours before race.

Morning Race: breakfast Burrito

Horchata

Monster Energy Drink

Boiled egg

Banana OR a few grapes

Crustless toast

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Morning race? Oatmeal, banana, almond milk, coffee. About 1.5-2 hours before race.

Pretty much this without the coffee

Rico C. Oleman wrote:

Boiled egg

Banana OR a few grapes

Crustless toast

Bump

black coffee when I wake up to clear the system. a packet of expresso hammer gel 15 minutes before the start. hate

A bagel (sometimes just half), nothing on it. enough water to get the body moving.

Then depending on how long until the race starts sometimes a gel or honey stinger waffle right before the start

yeah buddy wrote:

A bagel (sometimes just half), nothing on it. enough water to get the body moving.

Then depending on how long until the race starts sometimes a gel or honey stinger waffle right before the start

Try this:

Boiled egg

Banana OR a few grapes

Crustless toast

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Morning race? Oatmeal, banana, almond milk, coffee. About 1.5-2 hours before race.

What about a 3:30PM race?

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Morning race? Oatmeal, banana, almond milk, coffee. About 1.5-2 hours before race.

What about a 3:30PM race?

Well I have an efficient digestive system from eating something every 2-3 hours, so a 3:30 race isn't an issue. Aren't many afternoon HS and college practices at that time anyway? Basically just eat simple, easy to digest foods, though that can vary from person to person.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

What about a 3:30PM race?

Well I have an efficient digestive system from eating something every 2-3 hours, so a 3:30 race isn't an issue. Aren't many afternoon HS and college practices at that time anyway? Basically just eat simple, easy to digest foods, though that can vary from person to person.

Ha, I should clarify, I stopped racing in my mid-twenties, then this year after 12/13 years I started racing again. But I have completely forgotten my old race day routine. Where I live the 1500m/3k races are usually about 3:30 so one week I had a small lunch, cramped up. So the next week I went without, and I was starving, had no energy, the 18-20 year-olds out sprinted me.

BTW my breakfast is similar to yours, but you have to add Chia seeds and I call it porridge (it's proper name ☺).

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Well I have an efficient digestive system from eating something every 2-3 hours, so a 3:30 race isn't an issue. Aren't many afternoon HS and college practices at that time anyway? Basically just eat simple, easy to digest foods, though that can vary from person to person.

Ha, I should clarify, I stopped racing in my mid-twenties, then this year after 12/13 years I started racing again. But I have completely forgotten my old race day routine. Where I live the 1500m/3k races are usually about 3:30 so one week I had a small lunch, cramped up. So the next week I went without, and I was starving, had no energy, the 18-20 year-olds out sprinted me.

BTW my breakfast is similar to yours, but you have to add Chia seeds and I call it porridge (it's proper name ☺).

You have to practice your race day routine before the actual race. Here's an example of some things I'd probably eat for a 3:30 PM race, but again not everyone is the same:

7:00 AM - Oatmeal, banana, peanut butter, almond milk, coffee.

10:00 AM - Lara Bar, coffee.

12:00 PM - Some rice/veggie/chicken or tofu combo. Either that or a tuna or PB&J sandwich. Almond Thins crackers, baby carrots and hummus.

2:30 PM - Banana

3:30 PM - My opponents.

4:30 PM - Protein shake.

7:00 PM - Turkey burger, veggies, sometimes fries.

9:00 PM - Some sort of snack food (ex: popcorn, yogurt, wine).

The 2:30 PM Banana, ever cause indigestion? I need 50min warm up these days.

Not so sure about tuna? 😲

Most runners can eat a banana and run almost immediately afterward but if you are concerned give yourself 30 minutes before warming up.

Morning race? Large coffee, bagel with butter, oatmeal and a french crueller from Dunkin Donuts. But then again I'm a hobby jogger.

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

You have to practice your race day routine before the actual race. Here's an example of some things I'd probably eat for a 3:30 PM race, but again not everyone is the same:

7:00 AM - Oatmeal, banana, peanut butter, almond milk, coffee.↔way, way too early, the Usain Bolt approach is better

10:00 AM - Lara Bar, coffee.

12:00 PM - Some rice/veggie/chicken or tofu combo. Either that or a tuna or PB&J sandwich. Almond Thins crackers, baby carrots and hummus.

2:30 PM - Banana

3:30 PM - My opponents.

4:30 PM - Protein shake.

7:00 PM - Turkey burger, veggies, sometimes fries.

9:00 PM - Some sort of snack food (ex: popcorn, yogurt, wine).

The 2:30 PM Banana, ever cause indigestion? I need 50min warm up these days.

Not so sure about tuna? 😲

Bananas don't bother me at all, but I can't do gels or Honey Stinger stroop waffles before I run. Gus don't bug me *during* a long run/race, however, because my stomach has adjusted. Like I said, different foods affect people differently. You have to find what works for you.

You can get all sorts of suggestions, but you need to figure out what works for you.

That means experimenting and keeping records. You need to experiment with foods and volume of food plus the time proximity to the race.

One person might be able to eat pretty much a meal 2 hours before a race without a problem whereas someone else might need 4 hours for that same meal.

runnerashley wrote:

For some reason, I always throw up, not like my stomach cant handle the food but like there is too much acid? IDK what do you eat...

I've run hundreds of AM races. I've never eaten anything before any of them--except for a couple of marathons.

Cup of coffee with some milk. That's it.

I used to be a bagel/peanut butter guy but gen ucan really does the trick and sits light in my stomach while providing ample carbs.