The ULTIMATE pre-race breakfast?

Hey guys, whilst injured something that's really interested me is sports nutrition and I've been learning all about it. A few gaps in my knowledge though.

I understand glycogen, glucose, high GI/low GI etc, simple and complex carbs... to an extent. So how do I translate this into the ultimate pre-race breakfast has been on my mind for ages. I run mainly 10k races, sometimes half marathons. Before my injury (undiagnosed long-term shin pain which is currently being treated), I didn't tend to fuss too much about what I had, usually bananas and malt loaf.

So, if I need to replenish my glycogen stores quickly, but also have a complex carbohydrate so I have a supply of energy rather than a short boost, I was thinking of porridge with honey, so that you get a mix of both simple and complex sugars. I usually have peanut butter in it when I have it too, so that it lowers the GI and stops it giving too much of a sudden boost. I usually wake about 2.5 hours before a race, and with my bananas and malt loaf I never really had a problem with digestion.

Any thoughts on this? Anyone explain this whole system to me in more detail?

Thanks in advance...

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Comments

  • The answer to every running breakfast question is always porridge. Porridge, porridge, porridge. Try it with agave syrup if you want to lower the GI.
  • And for those that don't like porridge? Feels like setting concrete!
  • Cinders - you sound like a German penfriend I had when I was at school. She came to stay and we inflicted various Scottish delicacies on her, including porridge. She looked at it dubiously, tried a bit, then after a long pause announced 'it tastes.....of nothing' image
  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭
    Running Rodent wrote (see)
    The answer to every running breakfast question is always porridge. Porridge, porridge, porridge. Try it with agave syrup if you want to lower the GI.

    Absolutely right! image

  • I love porridge! Rather keen on peanut butter too. But mixed together?? NEVER!!!!!

  • It does taste of nothing! And when it starts to go cold it gets claggy and sticks in your throat. Makes me heave. Must be another alternative?
  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭

    Have you had it made with milk?  Make sure you put a little salt in, too.

    Then in the bowl add more milk (or cream image), and either honey, maple syrup, golden syrup, strawberry jam, or whatever takes your fancy.  I like a little sprinkle of brown sugar image

  • Cinders - its a subtle taste but best enjoyed naturally, no sugar, salt or anything else. Just oats with 50/50 milk and water. Yummy! I most enjoy mine though made with oat milk, even more porridgey!

  • Peter Everitt wrote (see)

    I love porridge! Rather keen on peanut butter too. But mixed together?? NEVER!!!!!

    Mrs Diamonds introduced me to the delight of peanut butter in porridge recently: It's....alright.

    My preference though is 50/50 milk/water; no sugar but dried mixed fruit and sunflower seeds; maybe a little bit of marmalade stirred in.

  • K9K9 ✭✭✭
    I LOVE it...but made preferably with soya milk and with some dried fruit (sultanas, dates) and maybe some seeds/nuts and a huge glob of honey....
  • it  needs honey in it.......

    cinders .the solution to the problem of when it starts to get cold........is imple.eat it whilst its hot.don't take so long eating itimage

  • You don't need anything for breakfast if you are racing a 10k. You body should have more than enough calories stored to get through 6 miles and a bit.
  • PhilPubPhilPub ✭✭✭

    I'd happily have any kind of wholegrain cereal, so long as it's not too high in fibre.  You might have to experiment according to your own tolerances but for me that generally means avoiding bran flakes and All-Bran but other than that anything will do really - porridge, Shreddies, Shredded Wheat, toast and jam...

    Sussex Runner (NLR) wrote (see)
    You don't need anything for breakfast if you are racing a 10k. You body should have more than enough calories stored to get through 6 miles and a bit.

    Also, this is kind of true - the energy demands for a 10k aren't great, so it's not really worth sweating the details beyond making sure whatever you eat doesn't upset your tummy.  I usually do my weekend training runs unfuelled these days, but I do like to get some brekky in before a race, but only because it's usually a good few hours between waking up and getting to the start line.

  • 2 bananas. Every time. 5K to IM.

    Though I was the most impressed by Cake's large bacon butty half an hour before kick off!

  • Nothing if its an IM..... I get sick open water swimming, so tend just to have a gel before the swim, and start eating like mad once on the bike



    Otherwise oatibix
  • MuttleyMuttley ✭✭✭

    Porridge is fit only for putting up wallpaper.

    It's a 10K not an ultramarathon. Have your usual breakfast a few hours before the off. The breakfast that you usually have, that you know doesn't upset your stomach or repeat on you during the race.

    It's only a 10K and the calorie demands are not enough to warrant a special nutrition strategy.

  • I have two of those instant porridge pots - you just add boiling water and stir - before a marathon, if I am having to stay away from home pre-race. I presume, though, that they are just porridge, milk powder, and some sweetener or other: might experiment making my own.

    *Edited * Just googled it, and someone suggests blitzing ordinary porridge oats in a blender with powdered milk and some sugar. Sounds plausible.

  • Porridge with cinnamon, banana and maybe a touch of fruit syrup. Or can do the same with wetabix and hot milk. Very comforting stuff! 

  • 2 slices of hovis seed sensation with peanutbutter,honey and chopped banana on top!superb!image

  • Me too! They have unseasonal frozen fruit in the dessert section of our local Sainsbury's and I just tumble a huge pile of it on my honeyed porridge with soya milk.

  • OK people say you dont need a good breakfast before a 10km as the race length doesnt warrant it. BUT, surely something like porridge before a 10km can only help cant it?

  • Mary-Kate Arthurs wrote (see)

    2 slices of hovis seed sensation with peanutbutter,honey and chopped banana on top!superb!image

    sweet jesus that sounds amazing.

  • How can putting anything inside your body you don't need help? You get all the calories you need from the previous evening meal(for a 10k)
  • Try it Vicky for your breakfast and you will never look back lol I love it!

  • K9K9 ✭✭✭
    I often ave similar - but in a seeded bagel...peanut butter, honey and banana

    Yum!
  • I'm a porridge devotee - but would be nice to try something else once in a while!

    2 slices of hovis seed sensation with peanutbutter,honey and chopped banana on top!superb!

    I'd leave out the honey as not a massive fan, but the rest sounds nom nom! Will definitely try this soon! image

  • Porridge all the way!  A personal favourite is to add some sliced banana, a handful of clueberries and a teaspoon of nutella image

  • Will give the seeded bagels a go!also a big fan of my porridge, a combo of the two for breakfast definitely keeps me full until around 2pm, great for when dont have time for lunch.image

  • Porridge here too..golden syrup.

    A mug of green tea



    On a half I would have a bagel driving to the race,the ones with raisins in.

    I like to get up early and have a nice relax get kit ready,and enjoy breakie..eat at 6 am race at 9.
  • Peanut butter on granary toast, followed by a banana. I have this most mornings anyway.

    I'm another porridge agnostic. It's OK occasionally, on a cold morning, but I just find it a bit bland and uninteresting. Plus, I always have to add a ton of sugar to make it palatable. I always feel really hungry by mid morning when I have porridge, which is the exact opposite of what is always claimed.

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