What is your favorite food before/after a run?

[lacrosse_lady72]

Best pre/post run food?

I know so many people have their own but I am wondering what it is... what does everyone here eat/snack on/drink before/after you run?

 

[jmasgat]

Nothing before a run--hate feeling like I have a full stomach.

Chocolate milk after a run--a very good carb replacement drink with the added bonus of protein.

Gatorade if I just want the carbs and have sweat a lot.

Maura
(Still trying to figure out your avatar!)

 

[Kira G.]

Before a run - anything with peanut butter! I'm partial to either peanut butter on an English muffin, or peanut butter on a banana. In a pinch I'll take a peanut Kashi bar. I can't run with nothing in the tank - I'll spend the entire run thinking about food! Ask my husband: I don't do well when I'm hungry!

After a regular run, water is best. After a long run (about 6 miles or more) I want a red Gatorade.

 

[dizneyfan23]

Before a run, I usually go with half a blueberry bagel (nothing on it)

Afterwards, just a Propel

 

[Duanerice]

Morning runs - same thing every time. Kellogs cereal.

Evening runs, not much as I have already eaten during the day. I too drink chocolate milk after a run.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[SAHDad]

Morning runs (short ones) - nothing before. I drink a high-protein Boost (or equivalent) afterwards. (The main advantage it has over chocolate milk is that it is shelf-stable. I can toss a couple cans in my workout bag and not worry about them.)

Long runs - Twizzlers, actually. I might be trying jelly beans or something else tomorrow. I know that those don't give me GI issues in the middle of a run, whereas "real" food can do so, which is not good at mile 16 of a 20 mile run, and out in the middle of nowhere. Afterwards, Boost (as above), and a real meal as soon as I can manage it.

 

[VernRDH]

For morning short runs, nothing before and multigrain toast with dark chocolate natural peanut butter and coffe after. For longer runs, I will have a Kashi bar before and the pb toast/coffee after. I always have water after running as well. I am going to try experimenting with different things when I start my half marathon training program. I am not used to drinking or eating during my running, so I need to work on that. I am going to try some of the gels and wil probably get a fuel belt too.

 

[chimera]

Before: half a bagel. Used to think I needed protein before, then found out I was having a hard time digesting it.

Immediately after while stretching: chocolate milk

After shower: Protein! Bagel with peanut butter, a burger (depending on time of day). If I forget to eat after, my blood sugar drops and I get VERY dizzy.

 

[TEK224]

If it's a training run, I'll have a banana before and either cereal or toast after (sometimes a PB&J sandwich).

If it's race day, I'll have a banana and PB&J about 2 hours before race and drink a Gatorade. After I'll munch on whatever the race provides and then a burger and fries. Not the healthiest choice, but tastes so-o-o good after a 1/2. (I'm glad Mel listed a burger, too. I thought I'd be the only one listing a not so healthy choice.)

Terri

 

[bunnyfoo]

Before a run, I usually eat a bowl of Frosted Flakes. It's not normally what I would eat but I can't wait around for the food to digest and it's the only thing that doesn't upset my stomach. Plus I like the kick I get from the sugar

After I run, I'll make myself a smoothie or drink some Gatorade.

 

[thndrmatt]

Super secret before the race food: A package (pair) of Brown Sugar Cinammon Frosted (way better than unfrosted) Pop Tarts (they sell them at the POP food court among other places like every gas station). About an hour before if managable, any earlier and I end up starving before the race even starts. Lots of water too. Really wakes me up/gets me goin, probably due to the massive sugar high. Hmmm maybe that's why I'm always running around on race morning acting like an idiot?

Post race is easy, everything! Whatever the post race food is, then wherever the closest/bestest restaurant is. All time fav is the chicken parmesan at Cheesecake Factory but with alfredo sauce instead of marinara. MMMMMMMMMMMM!

 

[SAHDad]

I realized in my post above that, while I put in post short and long run foods, I didn't include post-race.

Pre-race, I eat exactly the same things I eat pre-run. (So, for a 5k race with an 8am start, I don't eat anything. For a marathon, I eat Twizzlers.) Post-race - a 5k isn't going to be extravagant, though I might go out for breakfast or something.

Post-marathon? Not much for an hour or so, aside from the boost. But beginning about 2 hours after I finish running, and lasting for about 24 hours - anything that is vaguely food-related goes. Cheesecake, steak from Le Cellier, beer from Germany, Guiness from England. . . it's all good. Gotta replenish those energy stores, right?

(For my next marathon - there is a pizza joint that I used to go to when I was in college. Since the marathon finishes less than a mile from said pizza joint, it would be criminial not to go and partake of a Papa Del's pizza, right?)

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

before: varies, but typically a small energy bar - I have a whole stash of sample-sized Clif Bars and Larabars that I've picked up at races and expos, so I'm working my way through those

after: also varies, depending on how close it is to dinner time - when I need something right away, I usually go for Shamrock Farms chocolate or strawberry milk or a handful of plantain chips

My race morning routine is to eat a chocolate mint Clif Bar about an hour before, then a chocolate mint GU about 15 minutes before. (Can you guess my favorite flavor?) After the race, I go for whatever is provided.

 

[twoWDWfools]

If it's after work, I grab a Z bar before leaving work. Long run first thing in the morning banana and 1/2 bagel with sunflower butter.

After depends on time of day. Always GU2O right away but do use Boost type products sometimes depending on length. If evening, I may grab some fresh fruit while making dinner. If a morning run, then it's Egg Beaters with cheese and english muffin.

 

[redlight]

I seldom eat before a run. After a run, I love carbs.