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We’ve spent months putting in the miles and testing out all kinds of fueling options on the run. Yet, what to eat the week of a marathon starts sending us in to a bit of a panic! And how do we change our eating the morning of a marathon?
Do we need to carbo load?
Are we supposed to do the carb depletion before the loading?
And what about all these nerves that are messing with our stomach?
Let’s break down both pieces of the puzzle and help you figure out what’s going to work best for you to enter the race feeling rested, muscle glycogen topped off and stomach happy.
Why What You Eat Before A Marathon Matters
Your race performance can absolutely be improved or derailed by nutrition. It doesn’t matter how many miles you’ve put in if your body doesn’t have enough of the right fuel to get you to the finish line.
While your appetite may drop some during taper and then be very low due to nerves before the race, it is critical that you fuel!
During a marathon, your body primarily relies on aerobic energy production, fueled mainly by carbohydrates and some fats.
Carbohydrates, stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver, provide readily available energy during…
