20 pre-race/long run meal ideas and THE FIRST SOCCER GAME.

Another rainy day on the books.  We decided the treadmill was the winner for our run yesterday morning.  I did four miles @ 8:34 average pace.  I love to use the treadmill on days like yesterday when I want to make sure that I go a certain pace… I set the exact pace that I want so that I don’t accidentally go anything but what I am supposed to do that day.  I just run and read and stop right when I get to four.  Outside I’m always a little bit tempted to go somewhat faster or further.

We shot some hoops afterwards and I somehow think that shooting like a ballerina is the way to do it.

After that we packed up some lunches and drove up to Salt Lake City to grab the race bib.  They only had bib pick-up on Wednesday and Thursday or the morning of the race but I don’t like adding anything else to the race morning to-do list.

Our attempt to get a picture in front of the packet sign.

While we were there I was able to meet Sasheen and we were even matching:) She is running on Saturday too!

From there we stopped at Scheels because it sounded like a good idea.

Ferris wheel first thing.  Knox is our daredevil and it took Brooke a few minutes to warm up to the idea of jumping on.

She (and her Sour Patch gum… have you tried that by the way?  It is amazing) ended up really loving it (especially at the bottom of the ferris wheel).

We were busy rushing around the house getting everything ready for soccer whic meant grabbing 10 snacks and calling it dinner but I will post Bangs’ Friend’s beautiful dinner.  Her picture alone made me drool and decide that I needed this soon.  She topped the sweet potatoes with cowboy caviar, cheese, black beans and cilantro.

FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON.  I am positive this will be the highlight of my week each week.  Watching them was hilarious.

Andrew did a great job coaching and he’s excited for a season with these energetic four year olds.

It was pouring rain by the end but they pushed through it (a thing I might be having to do on Saturday morning too;)

Hot chocolates on the way home to warm up!

Pretty excited for this!  The forecast calls for snow today so that will be a fun addition to the race possibly ha!

Trial and error.  The wonderful part of running we all love:)  I feel like it took me YEARS to figure out what is best for my pre-race or pre-long run meal. For a long time I read that people loved using peanut butter before a race so I would try it time after time and have an upset stomach because of it.  With some good ol’ trial and error I learned that fat is not great for me before pushing myself in a race.  I also don’t have a lot of protein before a race because simple carbs are just about all that my stomach can handle so that is what I stick to!  I wanted to put together a list of different meal ideas in case you haven’t found what works best for you yet!

PS  The longer the race/run, the more you eat and many coaches recommend eating four hours before the race but that is REALLY early for morning races so usually 90 minutes to 2 hours is best!  OH and never try anything new before a race… experiment around during your training!

PPS if you are having stomach problems often during your races then try eliminating caffeine, fiber or fake sweeteners!

PPPS Save the cookie for after a race!

1.  What I do—>  lots of water, a white bagel (sometimes 2 bagels if it is a later race start like Boston) with jam (or honey) about 1.5 hours before the race.  I’ll usually take a gel about 30 minutes before the race start too.   Jason Hartmann eats three plain bagels and a bottle of water three hours before the race starts and another bagel with a banana 90 minutes before the race.  I think we both agree that bagels are the best;)  (source)

2.  Oatmeal.  Top with some nut butter, bananas, dried fruit, berries, honey or whatever you love… plus it will warm you up before a cold race:) According to this article, Kara Goucher eats a banana, instant apple-cinnamon oatmeal and a couple cups of coffee for her race-day breakfast!

3.  A cooked egg (or two) with a banana or berries!

4.  Applesauce with a side of toast!

5.  Ryan Hall has a Muscle Milk shake with Cytocarb mixed in a 3:1 carb-to-protein ratio.  He also does a gel right before the race starts.  (source)

6.  An energy bar (like the ones from Clif)… they have a lot of carbohydrates and are low in fiber.

7.  One of the Brooks’ Beast professional runners (KATIE MACKEY) has pancakes before each and every race.  Her races are usually in the afternoon so if she can’t make pancakes then she has sushi or a sandwich and a banana instead before the race.

8.  Milk bug your stomach?  Try out dry cereal (or cereal with almond milk) with a banana the morning of a big race.

9.  Some people love to do a meal replacement shake before a race because it is simple, around 250 calories and they taste good (like Ensure).

10.  I’ve been known to do two frozen waffles from TJ’s with some syrup before a race and it is delicious and digests well for me!

11.  Josse doesn’t eat grains (very often) so she eats two hard-boiled eggs before a race.

12.  A peanut butter and banana sandwich!  Easy to make the night before and have ready to eat 60-90 minutes before a race!

13.  Don’t love sports drinks?  Try some JUICE!!! Lots of sugar in those:)

14.  Scott Jurek has 3-4 servings of a smoothie, 6-8 ounces soy or coconut milk yogurt mixed with 2 tablespoons hemp protein powder, a banana and 10-12 ounces of water (source).

15.  I have heard from runners that love a pop-tart (or two) before a race!

16.  RICE!!! Have a super sensitive tummy? Rice is PACKED with energy and so simple to digest.  Simple energy!  Back when I was having a lot of GI issues I would make a bunch of rice in bulk and then grab some before a hard workout to eat.  Dathan Ritzenhein eats white rice with a little bit of milk and cinnamon sugar before a race.

17.  Yogurt with granola!

18.  An english muffin with jam or honey or a nut butter!

19.  You know my love for sweet potatoes… I’ve read in a few places to try a cooked sweet potato (I would skip the skin part personally though before a race but I really stay away from fiber).

20.  A tortilla roll-up!  Smear on some jam or almond butter & banana slices and roll it up!

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What have you found to work the best as far as food goes the morning of a race or hard run?  What has NOT worked for you?

Afraid of heights!?!?

A question from Andrew because he really wants to know… “If you could be any animal… what would you be?”