I'm doing the half marathon at Cowtown this weekend, and it's going to be my first race. I've done all my training runs in the evenings after work and haven't really thought about what to eat before a morning run.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

banana and some graham crackers a couple hours before and some water. go with what you have been doing for you longer training runs. i wouldnt recommend trying new things on race day.

You'll probably have the jitters, so I would eat 2-3 hours before the start. This should give you time to take care of business. You also don't want anything heavy in your stomach.

Gu

Nothing, the excitement of race day makes me nauseous. But that's probably not good advice.

About two hours or more before start. 2x the recommended portion size for a marathon.

[This message has been edited by An Ag in CO (edited 2/26/2009 6:12p).]

Toast with cream cheese.

Probably not the best, but it worked.

The best is whatever works for the individual person. There is no magic answer.

I doubt I've ever had the same pre-race meal twice. I've done everything from a 'typical' bagel and banana to two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits from McDs (prior to my marathon PR).

I still don't have a standard breakfast but I definitely know things that don't work for me. Although one advantage to moving into the ultra world is that you develop a somewhat iron stomach.

Usually a banana or a granola/energy bar does pretty well for me.

My weird thing is a bowl of Bare Naked Chocolate.....but always at least 2 hours before the start of the race...so this spring that means getting up early, having a bowl of granola in the dark and then trying to figure out what to do with the next amount of time....this works for me....sunday at the armadillo will be my 3rd 1/2 marathon in 5 weeks....looking forward to the day!

Similar question: I did a duathlon last week. Also did the course the week before. After the bike ride, I had severe cramps of my calf muscles both times. Had fruit smoothy, hot multigrain cereal and banana before and two more bananas during. Any suggestions appreciated

Normally I just eat 1/2 a banana about 45 minutes before I go running, but this is my first 5k in many years...so I think I'll do the whole banana and a piece of toast or something really light, around 5:00am for a 7:00am race. Oh, and coffee. At 5:00 that is.

I'm nervous but really looking forward to it. I bow down to you 1/2 and full marathoners... I don't think my knees could take that distance.

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Similar question: I did a duathlon last week. Also did the course the week before. After the bike ride, I had severe cramps of my calf muscles both times. Had fruit smoothy, hot multigrain cereal and banana before and two more bananas during. Any suggestions appreciated

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Remember that proper hydration starts several days in advance of your competition so nutrition and hydration leading up to a race is as important if not more so than the actual morning of

http://triathlon.competitor.com/nutrition/fluid-loading.html

edited to add this link, very interesting read on fluid loading

[This message has been edited by tank92 (edited 2/28/2009 7:59a).]

Thanks for the link Tank. As I get started in this kind of activity I find my ignorance is amazing!