THE MARATHON SERIES
Here at rabbit we know that by their very nature, runners are experts at delayed gratification. It is in that spirit that we have saved the best part of our fall marathon travel blog series for last. And by best, of course (pun very much intended) we mean FOOD! We posed the following question to our intrepid RAD and ELITE rabbits: What are your favorite meals for before and after races? Give us the deets, the nitty-gritty: recipes and favorite restaurants, your bestest, weirdest dietary insights! Not just, "I eat a bagel."
And never fear, dearest blogophile, our marathoning chowhounds delivered. Nay, they dished a delicious dollop of great pre and post-race dietary advice. Following are a few examples. Let’s start with the sensible part of the equation, (we’re in delayed gratification mode, remember?) and look at what our panelists say about pre-race noshing. Elite trail runne Christopher St Jean starts us off with some advice for vegetarian and vegan runners.
“As someone that eats plant-based, it can be tough for me to get enough calories sometimes, so I generally just try to calorie-load as much as possible. Avocado, nut butters, pasta, potato chips, stuff like that that doesn’t fill you up too much but is super caloric. If I'm in the campervan, a go-to is to make a big bowl of guac with home-made THICK pita chips. I generally try to avoid fiber, since I don't want to poop more than I need to on race day.”
And while we’re on the subject of stomach distress and how to avoid it, let’s have a listen to RADrabbit, Codi J. “I have a fairly sensitive stomach, so food is a huge part of my planning when it comes to race day. You may have heard this before, but never try anything new on race morning! When I ran New York, a friend offered me part of their bagel during the bus ride to the start. I was starting to feel hungry, so I ate it, not thinking anything of it. Carbs are good, right? Not that day. The entire race I ended up with GI issues that made the entire experience miserable for me. Now, this may not have been the only factor, but I am fairly certain it played a huge role.
“Don’t make the same mistake I did! Stick to what you know your body can handle.
My go to pre-race fuel the morning of is a Maurten 160 drink mix ~2-3 hours before and oatmeal with peanut butter and a banana. For my long training runs leading up to the marathon, I practice this same fueling. Training your stomach is just as important and should definitely be incorporated into your training cycle.”
“Train the gut,” is a great training mantra. Though not infallible, getting your GI system into a routine can help you avoid some race day unpleasantness.
Onward!
“I am not a huge fan of pasta except mac and cheese,” says RAD Aubree R. “That’s a category all its own! For pre-race meals, I’ll opt for things more rice-based or Asian-style noodles like Thai or Vietnamese. I’ve done sushi before races. Not to say I haven’t done pasta, it’s sometimes difficult to talk others out from that option.”
“I eat whatever I want, something I know will sit well. The night before long runs, I’ll eat a massive amount of Chinese takeout because it’s something I know I’ll eat. Morning-of, I’ll do PB&J sammiches, bagel and cream cheese, muffins, Belvita biscuits, or something along those lines.”
Says RAD Sam R, in a great bit of advice for marathoners who have children (or maybe just eat like them). “I steal my boys’ breakfast snacks for pre-race breakfast. Poptarts are a favorite with the hiking and ultra community, but really anything made for kiddos fits that bill. My 7 year old eats these wonderful little muffins and these store brand “two bite cinnamon rolls.” My oldest loves apple slices. The stuff made for kiddos is by nature easy on the stomach and full of carbs and sugar. My wife has just learned to buy more of their food at the grocery store — it’s OUR food now!”
I mean hey, if we can’t steal our kids’ food, what’s the point in even having kids? Am I right? And for all of you omnivores whose kids have left the nest, we’ll let RAD Sydney A have the last word on pre-race feasting:
“Night before – Pasta, baby! I have tried a lot of combos, but my favorite is spaghetti with Bolognese sauce. I have a great recipe from my mom that works well when I am fueling for a local race. And when I am on the road, I try to find something similar. I have learned the mixture of carbs and protein that is best for me.”
“Morning of - TBH, I am not very good about pre-race fueling and often have to make myself take in something. I also have to be careful not to upset my stomach – one memorable Boston, I had oatmeal because everyone RAVED about how great it was for pre-race fueling. Suffice it to say, that was not a good idea. Typically, I have a pretty bland and light “meal” consisting of a bagel or English muffin topped with nut butter and a banana. And water.”
Every sentence dealing with pre-race nutrition should end with that phrase: “and water.” Amen.
And now for the fun part! The race has been run, the bananas, bagels and water have been forced down the gullet, the miles have been run and the medal has been placed around the neck. Now it is time for the reward, the gratification at the end of the endless delay! Ladies and gents, grab your forks, put your napkins on your laps, and prepare to consume. We could almost see the giddy anticipation as we read our panelists’ responses to the question of what they eat after the race.
“This is where the fun begins!” Clearly, RAD Codi J is our kind of people, as she waxes encyclopedic on the subject of post-race feasting. “I always try to eat something soon after finishing the race, even if my stomach doesn't quite feel like it can handle food yet. Getting calories, sugar, carbs back into my body is extremely important afterwards. (And yes, you need more than just a beer!)”
(Editor’s note: sigh).
Continues Codi, “Typically the race will have food for you as you exit. Again, take some even if you don't feel like eating it right away. It's better to have it. Another favorite part of running a Major for me is dinner on the day of the race. I typically spend a decent amount of time checking out reviews and menus of restaurants near the hotel. Once I find one, I make a reservation right away. Due to the increased population during these races, restaurants fill up fast, so I definitely recommend a reservation weeks to months in advance.”
Sydney A is a bit more prosaic: “I have a friend who advised me to “eat a cow and have a beer” after finishing my first marathon. While that may not work for everyone, my favorite post-race meal is a cheeseburger with chips or fries. A beer is nice, too, but when I race the Chicago Marathon for Team RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Charities), I am handed a chocolate milk and glass of champagne as I enter the reception area. I toast with the champagne first, then drink the chocolate milk. It’s pretty much the perfect way to celebrate the finish and such a great cause!“
RAD Aubree R keeps it short and sweet: “Post-race: Thai, Indian, Lebanese, sushi, pho, something super flavorful with all kinds of spices… hearty and filling.”
Sounds pretty good to us! And now we’ll let rabbit Elite, Jennifer Pope have the last word, for as they say, brevity is the soul of wit!
“After the race? Give me every restaurant in town! But my first stop post-race is a latte. Give me the best-known latte around!”
Here, here! Lattes for everyone! Or beer, or champagne, or chocolate milk! By then you’ll have certainly earned it.
