Marathon Weekend 2026

[The Expert]

SAFD and happy anniversary @camaker
I've paid some attention to fueling, but mostly regarding what I can't or shouldn't have. This training cycle I'm noticing that runs feel easier and my paces are faster, and I honestly think it's in part because of diet. We've had a weekly farm vegetable share all summer and picked up another for fall, so we've been cooking a lot and eating lean and balanced meals.

We're traveling this weekend and my diet is different, and I noticed my hour long easy run felt much harder than it should have. I also forgot to bring my fuel and didn't eat anything before I went. So food is clearly impacting my runs far more than I thought. I'm going to start logging it so I can confirm and watch for patterns.

 

[RuntheMouse]

SAFD: I’ve never met a carb I didn’t love so I’m not lacking in that department on any given day. So prerace, at Disney especially, I don’t do much different the days before other than focus on hydration and picking something yummy for dinner. I have oatmeal in the morning to top things off.

My marathon last month was the first one I made an actual attempt to carb load and holy cow was that hard! I ended up drinking a lot of juice to get relatively close to where I was shooting for.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD: I don't eat a wide variety of foods, so I don't have much trouble finding something to eat before the races. I do have a few rules about what not to eat though. No rich ice cream in the late afternoon/evening (a Mickey bar is OK in the afternoon, but no malts or sundaes), and definitely no hot dogs--I get the worst burps if I run within like, 12 hours after eating hot dogs and it's just too gross to put up with.

I usually opt for some french fries or a Mickey pretzel for dinner the night before at Disney, and a burger at lunch. I don't worry about carb loading specifically because I already eat a bunch of carbs.

 

[Kerry1957]

SAFD: I'm an in-control Type 2 diabetic, so i have learned to live (and run) eating very few carbs. Carb loading for me is a bagel with peanut butter and a banana the morning of the race. I do try to pack in some extra calories the night before the race but it's high protein, moderate fat, very low carbs. I'm only only running the HM this year so it is not as critical. On course nutrition is thus important for me, but that's another SAFD for another day.

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: My primary pre-race meal is a big breakfast in late morning the day before the race. I follow the advice of my former coach who told me before my first Ironman to “eat as many pancakes as you can. Then have one more.” Works great for marathons too, which is why you’ll find me at Chef Mickey after the half. For dinner before a race, I keep it pretty light with miso soup, sushi, and plain rice. It’s a good mix of simple and easy-to-digest carbs and protein.

 

[princesspirateandrunner]

SAFD: I’m usually good with pasta, pizza, or maybe fish and rice the night before a race. We stopped eating meat six years ago, so a margherita pizza is usually a good choice.

I’m not a breakfast fan, and I hate bananas (I know that’s not a popular opinion, sorry) so I struggle to eat early in the morning. I usually eat a Clif bar on the bus, then down a Gu or Roctane in the corral. That’s just about all I can do that early.

Happy anniversary, @camaker! We want to hear about Scotland when you’re back!

 

[AZMermaid]

W have a 3:55 Via Napoli for the night before the marathon. At home, I tend to eat fairly balanced meals and don’t really prep differently for my long runs, but maybe I should.

 

[lilmc]

(I know that’s not a popular opinion, sorry)

Don’t apologize, they’re totally evil

 

[Herding_Cats]

SAFD:
I don't specifically/strategically carb load, but I do love carbs. They are not hard to find at Disney. This summer when I was training for my trail race I would have an overnight oats (chocolate/peanutbutter/banana flavor) before my long runs. Since it's made with milk I try to have it all down an hour before I run so the dairy doesn't shake around in my stomach. But I can really eat just about anything and run, as long as I don't eat too much.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: I’ve had chronically low blood sugar my whole life - the trick to keeping it relatively stable is 3 full meals + 2 snacks per day, each a balanced combo of lean protein and complex carbs. And I’m mostly vegetarian. And have some food allergies. AND prefer to eat a wide variety of vegetables and legumes. All of which makes eating at theme parks challenging, race in the mix or not. Any years I’ve done the marathon or Dopey, I rented a villa with a full kitchen and prepared the bulk of my own meals. I do what I can for halfs, trying to find a decent QS sandwich or salmon entree at my resort. I can pretty much eat whatever before a 5 or 10K. At home, I make my own pizza the night before a long run, but WDW’s pizza does not compare lol! For fueling on race day, I have a good breakfast before leaving my room: either oatmeal with berries and a blob of PB or half a wheat bagel with PB and a banana.

 

[Disney at Heart]

… But I can really eat just about anything and run, as long as I don't eat too much.

Me, too! I have some carbs and protein with whatever meal I eat, but it’s best if I eat early, like 4:00-5:00, and not eat too much before a long run like a half or full. I do avoid big salads or anything else with high fiber just to keep from “unloading” during the run.

ETA: Peanut butter granola cracker or honey stinger waffle just before the race so I have something in my stomach.

 

[Erika10021]

I am pretty sure everyone here has already got the races they want but, just in case, half marathon has been available a lot this morning.

ETA: Telegram has not been terribly accurate lately.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Me, too! I have some carbs and protein with whatever meal I eat, but it’s best if I eat early, like 4:00-5:00, and not eat too much before a long run like a half or full. I do avoid big salads or anything else with high fiber just to keep from “unloading” during the run.

ETA: Peanut butter granola cracker or honey stinger waffle just before the race so I have something in my stomach.

I mean....I ate a turkey sandwich in the middle of refereeing for 6.5 hours on Saturday during a 7min break between games. I think the only thing I've ever really regretted eating before a run was tacos because of the burps, but I also think if I'd waited an extra 20min I would have been fine.

 

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: I try to go carb heavy for breakfast/lunch the day before races start, then go something easy on the stomach for dinner. I have a hard time sleeping for the races, and having something heavy sitting in my stomach, and also any after tastes from it, make it harder to sleep. I think this year going to try to order some grocery delivery from Trader Joe's and get the chicken fried rice to heat up in my room. That is what I have been eating before tri races, and going to try to keep that same strategy for this MW.