Eating for a running race

[mcort]

Hi!

I am about 5ft (154cm) and weigh 110lbs (50kilos). I am just trying to lose some inches as opposed to weight. I am training for my 3rd half marathon in a months time. This past Sunday I ran my 2nd half marathon and had a healthy dinner the night before but ate 2 massive meals after the race.

My question is - If I am not eating crap, should I worry about how much I eat a day or two before a race and a day or two after the race? For example, can I have a veggie pasta the night before? During the race I drink water and have a gel or two.

I have been on fitbit for about 2 weeks now. I basically try to cut my calories, meet my 10,000 steps a day and get some exercise in (yoga, boxing, walking or running).

[Snowflakepdx]

Avoid too many veggies and salad the day before. A simple plate of pasta with red sauce is fine. Try not to eat anything new or different.

[Heybales]

Well, if you are cutting your calories then you are trying to lose weight then.

As such one of the first things the body does going in to diet is drop some glycogen stores, along with attached water. The traditional fast weight loss first week.

You want that back going in to a half-marathon. 

So by all means eat more the 2-3 days leading up to the race, as long as you've tested the after effects of such meals and know it won't get your stomach going bad during the race, it's of great benefit.

No where near the real carb-loading program (which isn't needed on half anyway) which takes about a week and specific workouts, but still beneficial to be topped off as best you can.

And your post race meals being bigger will allow for faster recovery.