Pre- Race Meal!

 

Have you ever wondered what you should eat before a race, that day or the night before? The foods any athlete eats can affect performance. For example, eating unhealthy foods is not a good way to get ready for any athletic event, especially not a running event. When you eat unhealthy food, the energy does not last as long as healthy food energy. This means that you will be more likely to have an energy crash. Unhealthy foods can also cause the feeling of being bloated and affect your blood flow. Unhealthy foods affects your blood flow because most contain trans- and hydrogenated fats which decreases blood flow to the rest of your body and running becomes more difficult.  The foods you should eat are carbohydrates, also known as carbs. Carbs are anything from pastas, to breads; the eating of all carbs is called carb loading. Other food that you should eat is fruits, meats (the night before, so that it settles and doesn’t bounce in your stomach), yogurt, peanut butter, power bars, and vegetables. Foods to avoid are chips, cookies, candy bars, pies, sodas. However you can eat some of this just not all the time. Chocolate milk, as a matter of fact, is the best recovery drink because it replenishes your body better than other drinks of foods. For some people drinking coffee in the before they run works for them because of how there body works, but for others if they drink coffee in the morning they will get sick or it won’t work for their body and give them energy like it may someone else.

 I struggle with eating healthy.  Before a race, I try to eat light foods or whatever I can find at my house to take along to eat. I enjoy eating a Nutri-Grain cereal bar before a race since it is light. Some things I eat for energy are power bars. They taste horrible, but I believe they work. Some types of energy foods you can get are power bars, cliff bars, there are also gels and gummies that you can find.

Info:  http://www.livestrong.com/article/436878-how-unhealthy-food-affects-running-performance/
http://www.runtheplanet.com/trainingracing