Pre-race food

[Sea Chicken]

What do you all eat the night before and the morning of a race. I ran a half marathon on Saturday (Potato race 1:42:34, 1:05 off of my pr). Friday night my kids had a school carnival, so I ate two hot dogs, a bag of Cheetos and a can of Kroger brand diet cola. Later that evening I decided I needed something better so I ate a serving of potatoes (seemed fitting). Saturday morning before the race (8am start) I ate a banana.
I know I should have done better the night before, but I have a hard time finding a balance the morning of the race. I don't want to eat too much and feel sick, but I want to get enough fuel to get me through the race. Especially for a marathon, how much is too much/not enough?
By the way, I felt fine the whole way, but I wonder if I could do better.

[marsupial]

I usually eat a banana and/or a yogurt or sometimes the morning of a race. I don't pay much attention to what I eat the night before. The last big race I had was Nov. 1. The night before I ate chili and a bunch of candy (because it was Halloween). Like you, I felt fine but maybe should have had spaghetti or something instead.

[bluegoose]

I can't really speak much for the running pre-race meal, as I've only done the one marathon. I believe that I got up about 3 hours early and had some juice and a muffin. Night before I believe that I did Macaroni Grill and ate my weight in pasta.

Usually before a local 5K or 10K I don't eat anything. I am a morning runner and usually roll out of bed and into my running shoes, so I'm used to not eating before I go.

On the bike, its usually the same story. Before a big race or century i usually try to eat some good complex carbs. However, we have a 2 year tradition at our house of having pizza and a movie every friday night. So on my big training rides I usually have a couple of pounds of pizza grease sitting in my gut. I honestly can't tell the difference in my performance between the different friday night meals.

[BigPiney]

This is a tough one. A lot of it depends on the start time of the race. Some of the tris that I have done start around 7 most around 8. The runs I have done have started later.

For breakfast I try and throw a bananna in there. I have found that carnation instant breakfast tends to sit well, and it gives a bunch of protein. If it is not too early of a start I like to have either a bowl or grape nuts or frosted flakes. My big problem is not being hydrated enough after sleeping all night.

If you are doing longer than a half marathon or olympic distance tri, then I would worry about what you eat for dinner the night before, but until then I don't think it going to make much difference either way.

Some people like to eat a GU like 5 minutes before race start so that the energy will hit them about 30 minutes in, but I haven't tried anythign like that.

[cowboy]

This is a tough one. A lot of it depends on the start time of the race. Some of the tris that I have done start around 7 most around 8. The runs I have done have started later.

For breakfast I try and throw a bananna in there. I have found that carnation instant breakfast tends to sit well, and it gives a bunch of protein. If it is not too early of a start I like to have either a bowl or grape nuts or frosted flakes. My big problem is not being hydrated enough after sleeping all night.

If you are doing longer than a half marathon or olympic distance tri, then I would worry about what you eat for dinner the night before, but until then I don't think it going to make much difference either way.

Some people like to eat a GU like 5 minutes before race start so that the energy will hit them about 30 minutes in, but I haven't tried anythign like that.

This may sound crazy, but I like a couple of pancakes with lots of butter and a little powdered sugar. I think the fat content of the butter distributes the carb uptake evenly. Anyway, that is my favorite pre-race or pre-long run breakfast.

[Teenage Dirtbag]

The night before, I'll eat pretty much whatever, as long as it's not spicy, and has lots of carbs. I'm really not strict about fat for the few days leading up to the race, either.

The morning of, I will eat a fairly large bowl of oatmeal with honey (no milk) a couple of hours before the start. I'll take a GU right before the start, then every 5 miles. At the aid stations where I eat a GU, I'll take water. All other aid stations, I take Gatorade.