Tip #25 – What to Eat Before the Race
- Columbus Marathon
- Oct 13, 2022
- 2 min read
Welcome back to our annual “26 Tips for 26.2 Miles” blog series. For the 26 days leading up to race day, athletes and spectators can get daily tips to make the most of OUR race. Stay tuned for tips on parking and food, cool viewing spots and race rules, and answers to all your pressing race day questions. We are here to help you make the most of your 2022 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon experience! Let’s go!
Eating before the race is essential to fueling your body for the miles ahead. And while you might be tempted to fuel up with a large, hearty breakfast, remember that a lot of food can leave you feeling sluggish and may cause an upset stomach. Instead, opt for easy-on-the-stomach carbohydrate-filled food like oatmeal, a banana with peanut butter, toast and jam, or a granola bar with fruit. You’ll also want to avoid high-fiberfoods, as fiber can leave you feeling gassy and bloated.
Check out this Training Talk video for more information on what you should and should not consider eating before the race.
Eating well before the race helps load your muscles with carbs (or glycogen), which your body will later use for fuel. Successful “carbo-loading” will help reduce the ominous feeling of “Hitting the Wall;”or more information on what “Hitting the Wall” means and feels like, check out this Training Talk video.
Make sure to prioritize re-fueling after the race as well! You can find out more about Post Race Recovery in Tip #14 here. And while you’re in downtown Columbus celebrating the incredible feat of running the full or half marathon, be sure to support our local businesses and restaurants—there are many great options all within walking distance.
This pre-race eating guide is an essential resource for anyone training for the Columbus Marathon. It simplifies core carb-loading principles and race-day breakfast timing with approachable, runner-friendly meal suggestions, and the reminder to avoid untested foods addresses one of the most common race-day GI issues. The down-to-earth tone makes complex sports nutrition easy to absorb for new and veteran marathoners alike. I look forward to your next tip focusing on mid-run fuel stops along the Columbus Marathon course. --glow up
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his is great advice for runners! Keeping pre-race meals simple and carb-focused really makes a difference. I've found that sticking to familiar 1v1 lol online foods like oatmeal or toast helps avoid any stomach issues on race day. Thanks for the practical tips!
My friends and I sometimes use FMovies when we want to find something to watch together. It usually ends with us debating what to pick, laughing at the best scenes, and talking about it afterward.
Proper fueling is definitely the secret to a great race day. I usually stick to simple carbs too. To keep my mind off the pre-race jitters, I sometimes play a few rounds of retro bowl on my phone. It's a great way to stay relaxed!