Four months of training later and here we are: the day before the marathon. I just capped off hundreds of miles of training with an easy two-mile run. It’s incredible how short that distance feels now!
But it’s not over yet. I’ve been focused on fueling all week, but today and tomorrow morning more than ever.
Today, the Day Before the Marathon
Lots of complex carbs. I’m eating more during this first half of the day and will taper off toward evening. Looking forward to that sweet potato!
Lots of water and, my favorite, coconut water.
A Vemma Renew, which I’m enjoying now post-run.
Tomorrow, the Morning Before the Marathon
After much internal debate, for breakfast before the marathon I’ve decided on a small smoothie with banana, blueberries, coconut milk, turmeric, chia, and peanut butter, and a homemade healthy-as-muffins-get bran muffin. The truth of it is, my stomach is just not that sensitive when it comes to eating before a run, so I shouldn’t be too worried. My boyfriend reminded me that I’ve already done the most important part: four months of training. The rest of this is just a bonus.
I’ve also got my beverage line up ready for tomorrow. First, a cup of warm lemon water, as per usual. After breakfast I’ll drink a Verve for a healthy caffeine kick, followed by coconut water as we drive to the starting line.
During the race, the aid stations will have water, sports drinks*, bananas, pretzels, and oranges. I’ll also be carrying and consuming a few sports gels of my own. I’m not keen on those, but in the case of a body running 26.2 miles, I figure it’s okay. What I don’t want to happen is a breakdown due to not refueling early and often enough. Desperate times, after all, and I think things might start to feel a bit desperate at some point during that run.
Post-race I’ll have more water, coconut water, and a Bod-e Build waiting for me, and I’ll probably eat a banana or another small carbohydrate.
Since this is my first marathon, after all, this is all a grand experiment based on my own dietary preferences, my knowledge of my own body, and a conglomeration of the various marathon-fueling-related articles I’ve read.
What do you eat before, during, and after a marathon?
*A note about commercial sports drinks (and gels, for that matter), which I usually completely avoid.
The second ingredient, at least in the particular one that is being offered at the aid stations on race day, is high-fructose corn syrup — not something you want to be putting in your body. During the marathon, my body will be going through something it’s never gone through before. I’ll try to do most of my replenishing with water, bananas, and pretzels, but I will also probably drink the stuff. I don’t want to risk running out of gas. And it’s only one day. I’ll resume my sports drink-free lifestyle after the race.
Please know that unless you’re doing extended periods of intense exercise, you do not need and, in my opinion, should not use sports drinks. They add calories and sugar to your diet and for “normal” exercise (an hour of moderate or even intense exercise per day), water is enough.