Hi there! I'm doing my first half marathon in 10 days time and just wanted a bit of advice about what to eat before hand. Its a 9.30am start and when I do my long runs on a Sunday (10-12 miles) I normally have a banana at 6am then go out by 8am. I have actually ran 13 miles on a banana and had a gel pouch at about 8 miles and felt ok. Would this be suffcient for the day? Should I change what I'm used too? I find I can't eat anything for 2 hours before, blimey am getting nervous just writing this what am I going to be like on the day! Anyway thanks for any help!
Comments
Dont go experimenting too much on the day, whatever you do!! May lead to an explosion!!
Stick with what you normally do. And as TTTB says, the evening before is just as crucuial............ no Indian curries. Have pasta and get the carbs nicely loaded up. Avoid cream sauces, go for a tomato-ey one. And lots of fluid (not of the alcoholic variety)
A lot of it is pscyological (gosh, thats difficult to spell). If you go into a race thinking " right, Ive trained well, and my body is ready", you will feel more positive than going with a dodgy tummy from the night before. Stick with your bananas, no roughage in the morning of the race, (porridge. Special K is nice and light, try it this week before a run and see how you do with it) make sure you go to the loo etc etc.
Have your gel mid race and you will be fine......... some people also have a gel before the race. I personally dont, and I also wouldnt personally try it as a new option on race day itself. Again because I dont want to do anything diferent that night lead to an "accident".
You have to keep yourself calm and collected so that when you are on the line you are ready. This applies to a 6 minute-miler and to a 13-minute miler. We are all the same.
As has been said already, don't try anything new on race day.
My breakfast will be a bowl of porridge at about 7:15 (if I'm up in time) and plenty of water before walking down St Michael's Hill to the start.
Oh and all the best on 14th!!