Where to eat the night before running Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon?

[TeresaNJ]

Hello all! My husband is running his first 1/2 marathon on November 6th at the world. The Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon, to be specific. He has been training for a year now. We're staying at POFQ, and will be doing the Parisian Breakfast at Chefs de France the morning of the 5th. I'm wondering what would be a good restaurant to eat at that evening. He's planning on trying to get to bed by 9 or so, since the marathon starts at 5:30 the next morning. Any suggestions on where and what time to eat dinner?

 

[awalker1015]

We ate early the night before Star Wara half in April. I think our ADR was at 4:50 at Captains Grille. This was our only option because I waited until the last minute. I'd say stick with simpler foods. We had originally booked Boma the night before the race then I got worried about weird spices I'm not used to upsetting my stomach later.

I do recommend Captains Grill. Solid meal. Another option would be Trattoria al Forno to get your carbs in.

 

[Alice777]

My son is running 10K on Saturday and 1/2 on Sunday, so for Friday night, since we don't have park day because it's our arrival day, we are going to stop by Wolfgang Puck Express to get his pasta for his carb intake. For Sunday run, I made ADR for Mama Melrose for lunch and Via Napoli Ristorante for dinner for Saturday so he can get his carbs and I can try Via Napoli's pizza.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Breakfast is NOTHING but carbs so I would recommend a more protein type meal for dinner.

Honestly I just get a chicken sandwich from someplace. Where are you staying? I think it's easier to eat close to home the night before a race.

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you talked to him about what foods have worked for him during his training. During his training he should have at least done the Half distance (Galloway training plans take you beyond the distance), and he should know what worked for him during his longer runs. What sorts of food work for him? What sorts of food don't? (the latter is more important) How late can he eat and still get up and run in the morning (if he runs in the morning)? If he runs in the afternoon/evening, what sort of breakfast and lunch make him feel better?

Those are the places to start, really. Training isn't just about the miles, but about the clothing and what stops the blisters and what you eat and what you drink and what fuel you might need during the race.

He's planning on trying to get to bed by 9 or so, since the marathon starts at 5:30 the next morning.

And he knows that he has to be in the corrals WELL before that, right? For a Half I'm waking up at 2 to get my coffee in and my system, ahem, working before I go to the bus to get to the corrals very very early.

 

[awalker1015]

I also got up at 2 the morning of my race. Have me time to tape my knee and have coffee. Was at bus by 3 for 5:00 start time.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I usually just get a turkey sandwich from quick service the night before for dinner. You don't want to do anything too heavy or eat too much.

 

[DrunkJam]

Is it like the marathon where you load up on pasta the night before?
So then, somewhere that sells pasta?

 

[burberryplaid]

Definitely don't go anywhere exotic. Go somewhere that has things that are similar to what you would eat at home. You don't need to carb load...go for balance.

That said, I currently have an ADR for Trail's End the evening before the Half Marathon in January. I'm planning on salad, chicken or carved meat & maybe a little mac & cheese or mashed potatoes. Yum!

 

[Kimosabe]

We stumbled into Portobello at Disney Springs in late afternoon/early evening before the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon. I say "stumbled" because we really didn't have any reservations or even general dinner plans prior to walking in. Our group of four got seated almost immediately at a table in the bar area, which was first-come, first-serve. If I'm not mistaken, it's just a quick-ish boat ride from POFQ and was good food...and a traditional way to carb-load with pasta (cliché as that may be!). Easy to get to get back to POFQ and into bed at a reasonable hour without needing to deal with the bus system.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I will be shocked if OPs DH needs any more carbs after the Parisian Breakfast. Trust me you don't want too many carbs.......... Unless you really like the porta-potty tour of the race course!

 

[Chaitali]

I agree with the people that advised eating close to home. You don't want to tire your legs out more than necessary when you have to run a half marathon the next morning. The evening before an early race (and the wake up is really early) I just pick up some pasta or something at the hotel we're staying at. But really, this is something that your husband has to weigh in on as far as what type of food works for him before a race. If this is his first half marathon, he can experiment with what works well for him before a long training run and try to choose something similar.

 

[CherieFran]

I'm staying at POFQ for the race as well. I'm actually planning a bit of time in MK that afternoon and then taking the bus back to POR where they have the build-your-own pasta bowl at the food court. Then I'm going to either walk or take the internal shuttle back to POFQ.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thank you all so much! Love all your suggestions. He runs mostly in the evening on the track at the gym. He usually never eats dinner before running. He gets home from work, sometimes drinks a protein shake before he leaves the house, then eats dinner afterwards, although he's usually not very hungry at that point, so will have a bowl of cereal and some yogurt. We both love Boma and had that scheduled for the evening before, but I've since cancelled it, since I don't think that meal would be very conducive to falling asleep early, and then getting up early after eating those dishes! Wow, 2am? Yikes! I was thinking he'd have to get up around 3ish or so. Good thing I posted!

And he knows that he has to be in the corrals WELL before that, right? For a Half I'm waking up at 2 to get my coffee in and my system, ahem, working before I go to the bus to get to the corrals very very early.

Haha, that sentence cracked me up! My husband also has a busy "system" most times, so I'll give him that piece of advice also!

So now that I have a good idea of eating the night before, what do most of you runners eat when you wake up at 2am, prior to the race?

 

[CherieFran]

So now that I have a good idea of eating the night before, what do most of you runners eat when you wake up at 2am, prior to the race?

I think this one is even more individual preference than what to eat the night before. I eat what I'd eat before any long run. In my case, a banana. I don't eat it at 2 am though. I bring it with me on the bus and eat it a little later.

If you aren't already aware, there's a great forum for RunDisney here. There's a thread for the race weekend: http://www.disboards.com/threads/official-wine-and-dine-2016-thread.3473004/

The Running Thread is also a great place to ask questions and get info: http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-running-thread.3477518/page-438#post-56459097

 

[Keels]

Thank you all so much! Love all your suggestions. He runs mostly in the evening on the track at the gym. He usually never eats dinner before running. He gets home from work, sometimes drinks a protein shake before he leaves the house, then eats dinner afterwards, although he's usually not very hungry at that point, so will have a bowl of cereal and some yogurt. We both love Boma and had that scheduled for the evening before, but I've since cancelled it, since I don't think that meal would be very conducive to falling asleep early, and then getting up early after eating those dishes! Wow, 2am? Yikes! I was thinking he'd have to get up around 3ish or so. Good thing I posted!



Haha, that sentence cracked me up! My husband also has a busy "system" most times, so I'll give him that piece of advice also!

So now that I have a good idea of eating the night before, what do most of you runners eat when you wake up at 2am, prior to the race?

Generally? I try to choke down half an Uncrustable sandwich or a couple of peanut butter crackers before a race, but I usually don't eat before I run. That's just me.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thanks, CherieFran, I had no idea there was a RunDisney forum!

 

[jon18uk]

Why not just stay close to the resort and go to Boatwrights over at Riverside. Carb load on Jambalaya.