Preparing for a long run is similar to preparing for a marathon. It's not what you eat the day before, but what you eat in the days leading up to it that really matters.

Also, it depends on how long of a long run you're referring to. It also depends on what type of long run you intend to do. If you're making it a fast-paced run, then you'll definitely want to be better fueled than if you intend to make it a 'time on your feet', LSD run.

There are many variations of the long run, and many ways to prepare and fuel for it. It's also possible that you can endure a long run by eating very little on the day before.

It's up to you, your level of training, and your goals.

Good luck.

Wow. A leon2 sighting. This is a good thing.

SaraAnne, when you say 'long run', how long?

Carb loading is appropriate for any long run that puts you in a position of using up the glycogen that you have stored up in your muscles and liver. For most of us, that means runs lasting three to four hours.

Proper carb loading can add to the amount of glycogen you have stored away in your muscles by as much as 50%, but don't wait until the day before your run to start. For the two to three days before your long run or marathon, try to pack away 7 to 10 grams of complex carbs per kilogram of body weight. Concentrate on foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes, and breads. If properly done, you should see as much as a five pound increase in your weight. Fortunately, this increase is mostly glycogen and water, so it will pretty much disappear after your long run or marathon.

You should also concentrate on getting yourself well hydrated at the same time. All those extra carbs will require extra water as well. A word of warning though, carb loading is not easy. It will be a real challenge to put away that many carbs in such a short time.

Tom

------------------
My Profile[/URL" target="_blank">
My Running Log[/URL" target="_blank">

quote:<HR>Originally posted by totaleffort:
The day before my long ( up tp 150 minutes) I eat bacon, eggs salmon and steak.

I am very low carb which I presume you are not.On my diet the above is what I do which works just fine for me.
<HR>

In the sense that you are able to complete the distance, it does work for you, but any serious runner knows that carbohydrate is the body's preferred fuel during high intensity exercise. If you want to run well, eat plenty of carbs.

The same as I do any other day.

I've tried carb loading before marathons but I don't see the need to eat more the day before a training run (unless its a test of what I will do before a long race).

I'll hydrate of course.