what is the best thing to eat before a half marathon?

Question

Run is Sunday at 8: 00 am need to know saturday and sunday schedule

Answer 1

A good load of carbs the night before, then a light breakfast a couple of hours before the thing. Maybe a banana and hour or so before the race. Then during the race, either a couple of those gel packs or a handful of those sport beans to get you through.

Stay away from Powerade during the race. It used to be good, but when Coca Cola bought them a few years back, they changed the formula from glucose and sucrose to high fructose corn syrup, which your body processes differently. Glucose absorbs readily during exercise, high fructose corn syrup doesn't. It can cause cramping. Gatorade, or just water with a gel or the beans is the better way to go.

Answer 2

• Avoid any unusual foods -- eat the training meals that you’ve found work well before long runs. Be sure to eat more than 12 hours before the race.
• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Your water bottle should never leave your side the day before a marathon.
• Stay off your feet, rest and relax. Try some light stretching.
• Use visualization during the day while relaxing. Envision yourself on the course. Think positively about all the work you've put into your training.
• Lay out all your clothing and gear for the race. Essential items are:
o Race chip
o Race number
o Running outfit, shoes and socks.
o Wristwatch – For timing/pacing in event
o Your race fuels
o Body glide or Vaseline to prevent chaffing
• Plan and prepare what you’ll eat for breakfast.
• Set your alarm clock and double check it. Make sure you have ample time to warm up properly.
• Sleep. Two nights before your race is the most important night of rest. The night before tends to be less restful, so don’t worry about it.

Run smart, not hard.

Answer 3

Eat carbs the night before, pastas very good, which is why its always recommended. On the morning have some cereal and remeber to hydrate well, and eat a banana as you get close to your start time. Its important just to keep hydrated throughout saturdy and sunday morning. I wouldn't suggest that during a half you would need to take gels or anything, you should be able to run 13 miles ok without using them, but obviously you should know from training whether you need them or not.

Do not carbo load - decreasing you carb intake in the lead up to a race and then eat as many carbs as possible - although theres not enough time to start that now anyway. Some people insist they see benefits, carbo loading hasn't been popular with sports scientists for a while now though, and many athletes including myself find it leaves you feeling lethargic and offers no improvements.

Enjoy your race.

Answer 4

I kind of tinkered with carbo loading for about 10 years before really reading how to do it. When you do it the way Powerbar recommends, you can expect to have plenty of energy for several hours. Don't forget to drink as much Powerade as possible during the race. Your body can only hold enough simple sugar to get you through the first hour.

My notes to add to it: expect to gain a few pounds of water and energy. This can be disconcerting before a big run, but having the energy makes it worth it. And the amount of food that you need to eat to get all the carbs is ridiculous. But read the article, then go to a site like www.nutritiondata.com and find high carb foods that you like. You'll be amazed.

Answer 5

Eat lots of pasta and chicken the night before, cereal with bananas on the day of the race, and then when you run it take a power bar that you can just leave in your gum and absorb all the energy.

Answer 6

It's a good idea to eat pasta a few hours before a marathon.

Answer 7

Pasta

Answer 8

Rasins dried apricots with water. Stay away from power drinks or you might feel nauseous around the 18 mile mark.

Answer 9

They always suggest lots of carbohydrates before a marathon. I would follow that regiment.