I'll graze on pretzels and Cheerios a day or two before the race. My preferred last supper is big wad of rice along with either chicken or a fat salmon steak. I love the pasta but it sits like a ball of lead in my gut.

A couple of days before I definitely like to snack on pretzels and cereal. Turkey sandwichs for lunch and salmon with rice for dinner. I'l even jug down a Pepsi or two, maybe not the smartest thing but I make my stomach feel good.

For me I like to eat Salmon/Brown rice the day prior for lunch and snack on fruits in the afternoon.

Morning of: a packet of oatmeal with 1/2 banana at least 2 1/2 before start of race. Usually around 4:30 am

I've never run a marathon, only two half-maries, but for future reference I am curious about a few things. First off, it seems like you people are not eating very much the day before. I guess I expected "carbo-loading" to be literally...loading (ie. more than usual) on heavy carbs specifically (like pasta and bagels...not salmon and pretzels). Half a 12inch from subway for dinner and the other pre-race?! I can eat a whole one in one sitting, and wouldn't think twice about it as a dinner before a marathon (yes, then I'd eat something else for breakfast too!). Unless there is something I don't know about cramping, bloating, and all that digestive stuff that can come-up-- I really have no clue. So enlighten me please, cos I am thinking I am perhaps sounding like a fool...? Or is carbo-loading something gradual that one should begin to do a week before? Or is carbo-loading just pure bs? But still, you people are out to run 26.2 and you're "snacking" on pretzels????? I am so confused by this =)

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Yeah, this is a common misconception. Carb-loading done right refers to two things:

- when you are tapering you are using fewer calories so if you maintain the same intake as during your peak triaining weeks you're going to be 'loading'
- the 'carb' part refers to adjusting your diet so a higher percentage of your calories ceom from carbs in the days leading up to the marathon. It does not mean eating more, just eating differently.

Many folks actually eat a bit less since eating more carbs leads to more water retention and can cause one to feel a bit heavy and bloated. It's ok from a phyical standpoint but can wreck havoc on a marathon runner's psyche.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by brazilianfootwork:
I've never run a marathon, only two half-maries, but for future reference I am curious about a few things. First off, it seems like you people are not eating very much the day before. I guess I expected "carbo-loading" to be literally...loading (ie. more than usual) on heavy carbs specifically (like pasta and bagels...not salmon and pretzels). Half a 12inch from subway for dinner and the other pre-race?! I can eat a whole one in one sitting, and wouldn't think twice about it as a dinner before a marathon (yes, then I'd eat something else for breakfast too!). Unless there is something I don't know about cramping, bloating, and all that digestive stuff that can come-up-- I really have no clue. So enlighten me please, cos I am thinking I am perhaps sounding like a fool...? Or is carbo-loading something gradual that one should begin to do a week before? Or is carbo-loading just pure bs? But still, you people are out to run 26.2 and you're "snacking" on pretzels????? I am so confused by this =)

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My understanding is that this is also in correct. True carbo loading involves a glycogen depleting event and then overloading on carbs so the body will store more than it usually would.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by jonathanCSU:
Yeah, this is a common misconception. Carb-loading done right refers to two things:

- when you are tapering you are using fewer calories so if you maintain the same intake as during your peak triaining weeks you're going to be 'loading'
- the 'carb' part refers to adjusting your diet so a higher percentage of your calories ceom from carbs in the days leading up to the marathon. It does not mean eating more, just eating differently.

Many folks actually eat a bit less since eating more carbs leads to more water retention and can cause one to feel a bit heavy and bloated. It's ok from a phyical standpoint but can wreck havoc on a marathon runner's psyche.


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brazil: I understood what you wrote, but I can't reply in Port. sorry about that! My writing ability is very limited!

It was very cool there, I was 15 years old- foreign exchange student. That was 17 years ago! I've only been back once, but I would love to go back again. What a beautiful country! I would really like to take my husband and kids there someday.