First things first, I was tagged by Carissa at the lovely dove to take a picture of myself. Well when I read that post I’d just gotten off work (thank god) so I still looked half-decent! I already showed you guy’s a terrible picture of me last week, after the gym!
I tag everyone who’s reading this right now! Hehe. I know that’s kind of cheating but lots of people have been tagged already and I don’t want to double tag anyone!
Onto today’s “your thoughts” post.
What should I eat the day/night before the half-marathon and the morning of?
Thus far, I’ve been eating one slice of whole-wheat toast with about 1/2 a tbsp peanut butter and 1/2 a banana in the mornings before my long runs. I don’t eat before any run of 4 miles or less.
It’s worked out well for me, however, on the longest run I’ve done yet: 12 miles, I started to get quite hungry around miles 7-9. Luckily, I’d taken a snack with me so I ate about half of a pecan pie larabar and then finished off the run strong.
So, for all you seasoned marathon/race runners out there, do I need to carry something with me to snack on during the race?
Also, what should I eat the day/night before. I have to admit I’ve been eating bad this taper week. Yesterday was my last day of work and they brought in donuts and I had two, then my dad took me out for an ice cream cone at DQ. It was soo not good and I felt icky last night. Then today I’m spending all day travelling back to Kamloops so I bet my eats won’t be the greatest either. Ugh, plus I’ve only gone for two runs and one walk this week and that’s been the extent of my exercise. I know I’m supposed to be “tapering” but I feel SO gross when I don’t workout lots.
Anyways, what exactly does “carb-load” mean. Do I really need to eat tons of carbs all day? I was thinking that maybe we would just go out for a nice pasta dinner the night before, but what do you guy’s think? Any specific foods that you think I should eat the night/day before?
As always any and all advice is appreciated! I can’t believe it’s only three days away! Eeek!
PS: As excited as I am for the marathon and my internship it was really sad (I cried a little) to leave home today. Do you guy’s get sad when you leave home still?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Good morning! I can't believe your race is this weekend!
The night before all of my 1/2 marathons & my marathon, I went out for a nice pasta dinner. Don't feel guilty about filling up on the bread either! If you do that, you should be set for race day.
As far as day of – I have learned that every runner has their own little routine. For me, it is very similar to what you described – banana and some toast with peanut butter.
I didn't bring any snacks w/ me on my 1/2s, but if you have a place for snacks, maybe you could throw in a Luna Bar or something like that?
Good luck, lady! You'll do great this weekend – I'm sure of it! Is Eric all ready for the race?
Oh, and I do still get a little down when I leave my parents house, too. And I am 28! I feel like I will always have that little twinge of homesickness. But then I think about how lucky we are to actually have that twinge because that means we have such fantastic families that make us feel happy & secure.
I’ve only run one 1/2 marathon – it was in Calgary on a SUPER hot morning in July. I had a bowl of Vector and an apple the morning of the race, but didn’t bring any snacks with me. By about the 16th km, I was starting to feel faint and really hungry. I asked another runner if she had some Sharkies and she was happy to oblige. I was soooo thankful!
Our running group went to the Old Spaghetti Factory the night before the race, which seemed to be a better idea than having spicy or steak-y food.
Have a great race!!!!
LG
I haven’t run a real race yet so I can’t help you there. My friends tend to eat pasta the night before and then take gel packs with them to eat during the race if they need to. I have no idea what is in the gel packs though =)
As for leaving home, yes, I still get sad and what’s really pathetic is that my family lives in the same town! But after I stay at their house for a few days it’s just so comfortable and awesome. The 20 minute drive to my apartment is terribly sad and my apartment never seems the same!
I don’t know ANYTHING about running, but I can comment on your “leaving home” thing.
I cry every time I go to visit someone or when I leave a really good vacation…I get attached to things/people really fast, and I always find it hard!
Don’t eat too much the day before or you’ll just feel gross and bloated, but yes, I’d say going to pasta dinner the night before. And usually I have one snack during a 1/2 marathon (luna moons, gu, etc). It will give you that extra kick you need to finish the last few miles. Go get ‘em!
no fair! you look beautiful in your pic! haha, but thanks for playing along!
unlike yesterday, I have no advice. I know NOTHING about running a marathon!
I don’t get sad leaving home because I literally live 10 minutes away from my parents, but when I went to college, I cried. and I was only an hour away! I was just scared to be on my own then… and then when I went to DC for a semester, I cried at the airport! again, scared. but it’s perfectly normal to be sad to leave home when you are not there as much as you like. and you had such a great time so of course you didn’t really want to leave! see, my family is a bit dysfunctional so I can only take so much before I say “peace out.” haha.
anyway, good luck with the rest of your “tapering”
I can’t believe it’s already time for your race! This year is just flying by…
Unfortunately I do not know much about running a marathon but I will tell you this, you are definitely inspiring me to start running! You are doing so great!! I hope someday I can be like you.
My parents live in town, and I’ve always been within a few hours of them but when I lived in South Carolina (20 hours away) it was harrrrrd! Definitely a turning point in my life!
I cannot wait to hear how you do in your half marathon. I’m beginning to think that all of us girls who comment on glamour.com (i’m known as zlie17 on there)– should start up a glamour running team and do various half marathon around the states and canada? and work our way towards a full marathon?
Definitely stick with what you usually eat before your long runs, it’s no time to experiment. I had pasta the night before..just keep it to red sauce not heavy cream sauce! and I had 3 Gu paks with me, and boy did I need them! so definitely pack something to eat along the way.
Hey
I am running my second half marathon on May 10, here in Fredericton.
I have kinda fell into a routine where i will eat a ncie plate of pasta the night before my long run and a piece or two a toast before i head out on a run. Also, i think I’m going to double up the pasta night next week and eat it fridya night and saturday night … just because i can!!!
I have crossed over to the dark side and now carry jelly beans and charkies with me for anythign over 18km.
But it’s really a trial and error thing, try stuff before you run with it. there’s so many things out there – gels, shot blocks, beans, i even brought mini eggs with me one day.
good luck on your half!!! you will feel amazing when you finish it!
I think what everyone eats pre run is very different from person to person. I do well with plain old oatmeal, made with water only. No dairy!! I typically eat during a run over 12 miles or a half marathon or longer. You don’t need much but maybe something to give you that extra little push you might need at the end. As for what you choose, again, everyone is different. I suggest start experimenting.
At this point, don’t do anything different than what you have been doing…you never know if something will affect you one way or another. I always have pasta two nights before a race but not gorging or anything like that. I carry CarbBoom gels with me and have 2 for a 1/2 marathon. It has taken me awhile to find what I can actually eat on a run without stomach issues.
GOOD LUCK!!! You will do awesome.
Good luck in the half!! You should definitely stick with what you know works for you…don’t try anything too crazy on race day! If toast with peanut butter and banana plus half a larabar made you feel good through 12 miles, it should be fine for 13. I interned with a sports nutritionist last summer, and here is some of the advice we would give athletes: The night before, eat a balanced meal with plenty of whole grains, try not to eat anything too spicy that might irritate your stomach, and drink LOTS OF WATER!!!!
Tapering for a half can definitely involve some slower five mile runs…I usually even run up to four miles (slow) the day before a half to loosen up my legs. You don’t have to walk to taper…just don’t do any really tough workouts!
About carbo loading: the concept is a week before the big event, you taper down your workouts while increasing the percentage of carbohydrates you eat (should make up 70% of your diet instead of 50-60%). You are not consuming more calories, as you don’t want to gain weight right before an event, but you are changing the ratio of nutrients in your diet. (More carbs, slightly less fat and protein). The theory is that this will allow your muscles to store maximum amounts of glycogen before your race. Some people swear by this method…I’ve never tried it. It may increase performance, but it is not essential to having a good race.
The most important thing to remember in your first half is to have fun!! You’re going to do great!
I agree that you should stick to what you’re comfortable with, you wouldn’t want to experiment and feel sick throughout the race!! ps: I also agree with what Erin said! It would be so fun (and would push me to sign up for a 1/2
Carbing-up the night before a race is good. Pasta the night before is what I always used to do, so it’d be ready to burn for energy when you started the race. As for breakfast, your toast/banana sounds pretty good. Maybe take a snack bar with you if you feel like you’ll get hungry, you can always eat half while you run. Don’t worry too much about calories before the race- trust me, you should burn them off and even if you don’t, you want enough fuel to make it through.
I wouldn’t worry too much about tapering off. It’s a weird feeling after working so hard, but you are supposed to WANT to run that race when you get to it. That’s what tapering off really helps with I think. It sounds like you’re doing really well!
Amanda