ADR timing, distance race, carbs=help!

[jngwright]

Hi experienced runners! The ToT 10 mile will be my first distance run (I have done 5ks, and will have done a 10K in August)
What do you recommend for eating prior to a long race? I am in it for finishing-not time. I will be making dining reservations for our trip next month and am trying to plan them. I am considering Mama Melrose the day of the race-will this be too heavy?
Any suggestions on how to eat in the days leading up to the race and the day of would be appreciated!! Thanks

 

[jmasgat]

I would suggest doing your main meal of the day at lunch and then a lighter "top-off" 3 hours prior to the race (along the lines of what you would eat for breakfast). You don't want to run on a really full stomach, but you want to have some decent food in you for the day.

Just eat normally (read:your usual healthy meals!) and rest well the days before the race. For us non-elite athletes it's best not to get to bogged down by/confused by "carbo-loading"

This is what I'd do. But let's hear from others (with night time race experience)

Maura

 

[Cripey]

Use these months of training to figure out what works best for you to fuel your long runs and then find a place at WDW where you can get a fairly similar meal. For example, when I was training for my first half marathon, the Princess 2011, I started playing around with my nutrition. Once I reached the higher miles in training, I picked a meal that worked for me and stuck with it religiously. For me it was a grilled chicken breast, a grilled vegetable (I switched between and veggie mix, zuccini, or asparagus) and a side of roasted potatoes...and lots of water! This meal worked great for me because it wasn't too heavy, my stomach didn't have any "issues" with any of the foods and it was an easy meal to replicate at many restraunts. I ate this meal religiously every friday night before my long training runs. I made an ADR at Portobello in DTD the night before the race because their menu listed a very similar meal...and I had no problems at all. I also ate the same thing in the morning before my long runs, and always at the same time so that the time between eating and running remained constant...and then I applied the same practice the morning of the race. For me, I think it's all about staying consistent so your body adapts...and don't throw it any curve balls on race day...keep it consistent. Book a reservation somewhere that you can get a similar meal that you know works for you and if you can, bring the same foods with you even. I normally bring my own "day of race" pre-race meal with me so I know I'm getting exactly what I'm used to...bagel and peanut butter (the Jif To-Go packs are great for this!) and then I pick up a banana at the hotel food court.

The logistics on race day for a night race are a little different because of the time, but as long as you keep the basics the same and stay consistent with the time between meals and the race, your body shouldn't revolt. Save trying a new dish that you aren't used to eating until after the race!

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

I agree with eating lunch as your main meal and then having a lighter dinner/snack before the race. If you have a sensitive stomach then sticking to familiar foods is probably a good idea. But if you're just in it to have fun and enjoy a Disney vacation then I say eat whatever you want as long as you don't overdo it. Personally I'm lucky that I can eat pretty much anything the day of the race and be fine. You'll probably find me on race day snacking my way around the Food & Wine Festival.

 

[jngwright]

Thank you for sharing this information. For 5k races, I have always gone on with life as usual. We will be there for 4 days before the race and I was unsure as to how to prepare for a distance race. I really appreciate the feedback!