Pre race carb loaded meal-- what do you eat??

meechrobi

I am trying to figure out what I should eat the night before my first half marathon. What do you eat as your pre-race meal? 

What do you typically eat the morning of?

(This is all new territory for me!)  

taratru

For a half, I usually go to Panera and get a cinnamon crunch bagel the day before and eat it in the afternoon.  That's all the extra carbs I do.

GRKaters

Pizza has treated me well the night before a race, and it's easy to find anywhere, so that's my go-to. Or spaghetti marinara.

The morning of, I stick with my usual wheat toast with peanut butter and a banana.

Don't use what works for ME, though, use what you've had (successfully) before any other long run during training. 

daisysle

Well, what works for me the night before a big race is basic pasta w/ chicken, pizza or pancakes.  Something that is easy on my stomach and doesn't cause me to have gas or have to go #2.

The morning of a half I will have toast or an english muffin w/ a little PB.  the morning of a marathon or longer distance race, it's a bagel w/ a little PB.

kelmchick

my 1st half is sunday and i've experimented the nights/mornings before my 7, 8 & 9 mile runs.  i dont carb load b/c i already have a carby diet.  but i have had 2 beers the night before each of these runs, then 2 eggs on a sandwich thin the morning of.  worked for me

OSULori

What works for me the night before a half is good ol' cheese pizza, and a banana the morning of.  This may not work for you though...definitely don't try something you haven't successfully had before a long run the morning of or the night before a race!

gt7301b

Number one rule:

Don't try any new foods the day before a race.

I usually eat pizza the day before and avoid salads. (my tummy doesn't agree with too many leafy greens the day before a long run)

The day of the race I usually have a banana and fiber one bar.

clseale13

The night before I do pasta w/meat and vegetables in the sauce. The morning of I have a whole wheat bagel w/peanut butter and banana. Sometimes I through on a drizzle of honey.

MargSimpson

A tri coach once told me that chicked parmesan is the ideal meal the night before a race.

Mush-Tastic

It's taken me a while and many races to figure out what works best with my body, but I always have a regular size Whole grain tuscan linguine with grilled chicken from Noodles & Co the night before and a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter 2 hours before the start time for breakfast.

For anything longer than a 10K, I will spend a couple days prior to the race ramping up my carbs.