What will be your pre-marathon Meal?

StaggerLee

I reckon I'll go for a big bowl of Porridge made with milk, yogurt, banana and almonds. Thats my every day breakfast so i reckon I'll stick with it. Might try and cram in some toast aswell.

What do you plan to eat the morning of the race?

quozl

couscous and lots of it I find it really easy to digest quickly, I guess because it's already ground up fairly fine and it's full of carbohydrates. I can eat a fair bit of it just an hour before a run, whereas most other things I'd have to leave longer.

inigo

was thinking of couple of slices of bread with butter and honey/jam and a cup of tea a couple of hours before the race. thing is i never have the same breakfast 2 days in a row and depending on work and/or day of the week i run at different times too...

Redfraggle

Last Saturday before a 5 mile race I made the stupidiest mistake possible. I hadn't run a race in yonks and without thinking I said I'd eat loads of pasta before the race. I finished a huge plate of spagetti less than 2 hours before my 5 miler :rolleyes:

As you can imagine I was feeling like most people do after a large meal except instead of lying on the couch with a botton or two opened I was on the start line of a race cursing my stupidity;)

From now on it will a small breakfast/lunch...

jasonb

Really don't know to be honest. Was planning Pasta the evening before, and might try porridge that morning. I live in Naas, so I've a bit of a drive to town, so realistically, I'd be eating the porridge maybe 2 hours before the race starts.

Might try the porridge on Saturday morning, and see how the half marathon goes. I'd hate to be running with a full stomach!

J.

hunnymonster

try to eat your brekkie at least 3 hours before race start to allow time for it to leave your stomach. After this time switch to energy drinks or specialised energy bars.

jasonb

Man, I was hoping someone wouldn't say that! Means I have to get up early now!

J.

bullrunner

jasonb...the marathon starts at 9 am if im not mistaken....so if you factor in travelling time and time to get up get dressed have food etc...you are prob looking at getting up at 6-6.30 ish anyhow....to me thats early!!!

jasonb

Yeah, you're probably right. By the time I drive in, get parking etc, and I want time to get warmed up, drop my bag off etc. It's just a case of eating as soon as I'm up, so that I get as long as possible before I run. I'll practice it this Saturday morning before the half-marathon.

J.

tunney

hunnymonster wrote:

try to eat your brekkie at least 3 hours before race start to allow time for it to leave your stomach. After this time switch to energy drinks or specialised energy bars.

Going to have to disagree with you. However its a very very personal thing - fueling before races. Personally I finish eating two hours before an event. No drinks no nothing unless its incredibly hot.

For gods sake anyone reading the marathon threads on fueling and pre race activities - TRUST NO ONE - do it yourself before a big session, test it, make sure it works.

I puked my ring during the bike leg of a triathlon a few years back because I tried something new on race day.

netman

It's porridge for me every morning, so I'll stick with that for the marathon as well. I might make a bigger portion and add another spoon of honey to it, but that's it.

As someone already said, don't try a completely new thing on race day

Myksyk

Hal Higdon (Mr 111 Marathons) says he has a small coke/pepsi at the starting line as he knows he will be able to digest it without its causing any bladder discomfort during the race. Again, try it out to see yourself. I'll probably go the porridge route on the day.