Evening Edge
What’s For Dinner?
DEL.ICIO.USPEACHTREE ROAD RACE
What do you eat before a big road race?Do you prefer toast and sports drinks, or does your pre-race routine include coffee?
For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/29/08
55,000 runners of the Peachtree Road Race and 55,000 different strategies for pre-race and post-race fueling strategies. When I ran the Peachtree (15 Peachtrees before my hip told me that walking was better for me than running), I stuck with black coffee and a cup of instant grits and drank a bottle of water on the train to Lenox.
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Of course, I was not a competitive runner — my goal was to finish the race without being packed in ice at a medical tent in Piedmont Park. After the race, I drank sports drinks and water before hiking back to the 10th Street MARTA station to head home. After a shower, it was off to the Waffle House for my once-a-year breakfast of cheese eggs and raisin toast, while proudly wearing the coveted T-shirt.
As a sports dietitian, I know that the best thing to eat before a race is something familiar (this is not the time to try the new energy drink you picked up at the expo) and something easy to digest (this is not the time to load up on dietary fiber unless you want to make several pit stops to the porta-potty).
I talked to Lee Fidler's running group (these men and women are competitive!) and they all know their bodies. They stick to toast, sports drinks, bagels, oatmeal — all good choices for a pre-race meal. After the race, they replenish their muscles with carbohydrate and protein combos like peanut butter on toast or eggs and grits.
YOUR TURN
What do you do to prep for the Peachtree and what is your post-run award. I'd like to hear what works, and what doesn't, so tell me your success strategies and your worst pre-event meal — the kind of meal that you would never eat again before running 6.2 miles!
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Comments
By GB from Athens, GA
Feb 9, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this
Bagel or muffin, coffee, and a few sips of water. After the race its the FLYING BISCUIT!
By John Tackett
Jun 25, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
For the Peachtree, No carbo loading for me - 10K is to short for that. I usually have a salad the night before. Then for breakfast, it is a whole wheat muffin, with peanut butter. I wash it down with a glass of soymilk and some whey protien mixed in.
Now after the run, I will usually have a protein bars and a G2 or Powerade Zero to drink. On ocassion I will have a light beer as well (especially after the Peachtree.)
And I always make sure that I drink during the run as well.
By Dixie Dawg
Jun 25, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
First of all, never, ever, drink Gatoraide prior to an event - this is where stomach aches come from. Sports drinks are a replacement product and prior to the race you haven't lost anything to replace. Plain water or black coffee are probably the best. Having said that, the day before isn't usually to special, with maybe some pasta the night before. That morning because of the long delay in waking and the start of the race I usually have a half of a banana and peanut butter sanwhich (one slice of whole wheat bread). Again, plenty of water. This is more than when I train but usually I'm up only 15 minutes to a 1/2 hour prior to excersizing but with this it is usually a good two hours. Good luck.
By Curt
Jun 25, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
I eat oatmeal and a bannana. On the train over I drink a small bottle of gatorade, by then your good to go!
By rekkidbraka
Jun 25, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
I've done the PRR now five straight years (this will be Year Six) and my pre-race breakfast is simple: Gatorade and a small peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread at home before I hit the car, then a banana while driving to the MARTA station. That's it. By the time the race starts, it's all settled and I've got just enough fuel to get me to the finish.
The worst post-race experience I ever had happened while doing the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston SC back in 2004. My race time was great but afterwards I was miserably sick. Why? Because the night before, I'd lobbied my sister and brother-in-law (also doing the race) for a traditional, basic spaghetti dinner. My brother-in-law opted instead for not driving anywhere so we ended up having Japanese steakhouse rice and meat. It wasn't my choice and all that protein from the meat was a nightmare the next day after all that racing. Meat before a race = no no. To me, anyway.
My best races are fueled by the most simple foods - spaghetti with plain marinara sauce, Gatorade, the PB sandwich, a banana. You have to think ahead and ensure that your body isn't working too hard in the digestive department. Simple is best, IMO. Less is more.
See you at the PRR. Have a great race, y'all.
By concern parent
Jun 19, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
Donuts and lots of them
By Chris Rosenbloom
Jun 16, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
Thanks for your comments. It sounds like you are all sensible about what you eat and drink (except for the "Taco Hell" guy!) I would suggest you pay attention to the heat & humidity and try drinking some fluids during your training runs to train your gut to tolerate water during the run. It looks like it will be a hot race--if the weather in June is any indication of what we are in store for in July.
By zeke
Jun 2, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Before Peachtree or other 5 or 10K races, which by the way if I simply cross the finish line I win, I eat only some toast or a plain bagel, and, drink only water! It works for me!
By Chuck
Jun 1, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
Don't eat anything in the morning before the race. The day before, just don't drink any alcohol, and don't eat anything that might tax your digestion, such as spicy food.
By Jay in Roswell
Jun 1, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
The morning of the Peachtree I eat nothing but I do have some water (but not too much which might cause a need for a pit stop).
After the Peachtree it is off for a Mellow Mushroom Pizza for everyone in my group!
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