Build Your Own Perfect Pre-Race Meal

May 29, 2015 0 0

Confused about exactly how to construct the ideal meal or snack for a long run, interval session or race? Try our step-by-step tips to find your ideal fuel.

If you’re standing in your kitchen wondering precisely what to eat to fuel your next run, you need a guide to get you started. Here’s a handy cheat-sheet of carbs, protein and fats so you can start to understand the meals and snacks that work best… for you!

Choose A Carbohydrate Food

It’s important to combine both simple (fast, sugary) carbs and complex (slower-digesting) carbs to fuel a long run or race.

1 slice bread: around 15g carbs

50g (dry weight) basmati rice: around 48g carbs

1 whole plain bagel: around 50g carbs

1 sachet (27g) instant oats, plain: around 16g carbs

50g (dry weight) whole plain oats: around 31g carbs

200g (raw weight) sweet potato: around 40g carbs

200ml semi-skimmed milk: around 10g carbs

150g fat-free Greek yoghurt: around 6g carbs

Add Some Protein

Protein is important for runners, too. Not only is it a source of energy (4 calories per gram, just like carbohydrates) but it helps your muscles recover and repair.

150g fat-free Greek yoghurt: around 17g protein

20g peanut butter: around 5g protein

50g natural hummus: around 4g protein

120g (raw weight) chicken breast: around 30g protein

60g tinned tuna: around 30g protein

1 whole egg: around 6g protein

Fast-Acting Carbs

Adding some faster-acting, sugary carbs to your pre-run meal will give you the energy you need to support your run from beginning to end. Try these sweet treats to keep it natural.

1 large medjool date: around 18g carbs

100g banana: around 23g carbs

50g raisins (just watch the fibre content!): around 40g carbs

What’s your favourite pre-run meal, or your go-to breakfast and snack on race day morning? We’d love you to share ideas with the running4women online community.