I am doing some research to see what food & drink runners/athletes prefer to eat prior & post races.
I will declare my interest now - I own a catering service aimed at athletic/road races. Cheshire Organics is the only 100% organic catering unit in the UK offering a quality service with food including pasta, chilli, bacon butties, etc. I am a runner and know what I like to eat but I am interested to find out exactly what other runners eat and what you would like to see available at your race meeting.
Looking forward to your suggestions.
Chris
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Home made fruit cake - can't beat it (well apart from bacon butties but you'e already got that covered)
After the Bearbrook 10k there was a great snack bar run by the club with some excellent fruit cakes (so good we bought a load to take hope for lunch too).
After a race: I'll be at the fruit cake stand with Nick. Something heavy on the easily absorbed carbs but with at least the illusion of being healthy. Also happy to settle for fresh or dried fruit, scones, and nice bread with jam, meat or cheese. I'm unlikely to want hot food for a couple of hours afterwards (although fresh soup would be nice on a cold day) but know plently of runners do sprint straight off the finishing line into the chippy.
As for drink, good old tea is my favourite after an event. Not stewed and not lukewarm! Some cycling events allow riders a free cup of tea/coffee if they hand in their number at the tea-tent/wagon, to prove that they took part. That's always a nice thing to look forward to for the last miles of the race.
The above may not be very helpful to you. I actually take my own food because I can't really afford to buy at the event.
Wish list: decent tea, water and juice as well as the cans of pop.
'tearoom 'type cakes as suggested, flapjacks, banana bread, carrot cake etc.
Proper soup, fresh sandwiches, rolls.
Baked spuds with chilli, curry, veggie options.
Pizza slices.
There's a catering company I can't remember the name of that does hummus, greek salads, garlic mushrooms etc which are delicious and mean the kids actually get a decent lunch instead of aforementioned chips washed down with pop.
Hot honeyed porridge sounds good though!
Foe some reason organisers assume we all want to eat fried food !!I did the Kona 100 mountain bike race and they only had one food outlet for 1500 people (on the ride they actually ran out of food at the food stops) serving bacon butties if you could be bothered to queue, and they had packed up and gone when most people finished !
Good luck. Nutrition is often forgotten about by us runners !
Though while reading Lagerman's suggestions I did start to ponder on the alcohol preferences! But no, we have to get home afterwards!
Sandwiches are always a must with heaps of mayonaise.....just to replace those lost calories (any excuse)!
Where is that pesky spell check key when you need it !
Immediately after a race, I usually crave a bowl of rice crispies, with a sprinkle of sugar and nice cold semi-skimmed. Pasta is great, but only after lots of fluids and a hot bath. I certainly couldn't face a burger or a sandwich/roll with a heavy filling.
Chocolate crispy cakes as a treat would be nice.
oh bugger !
I do not eat at races before the start since I need to eat about 120/90 minutes before the start.
Must admit, post-GNR I thought the smells wafting from the burger stands were gorgeous. And I don't even like burgers.
Looks like fruit cake is an absolute must in future, good tea we always have (in paper based cups you might like to know Laura), porridge is an interesting one - might give that a go, fresh fruit is always available.
Keep them coming.
Cheers
Chris
What kind of sports drink would you like?
At home I make myself a soya based banana & peanut "milkshake" as a recovery drink. Anyone fancy a fresh shake after a race?