Blacklisted pre-marathon foods that you should totally eat afterwards

Runners have to be picky with their diets in the hours leading up to the marathon. Certainly, we’re mindful of what we eat while training but making a mistake the night before a marathon can ruin a race so easily. We’ve conjured up a list of foods that are a terrible idea the evening before the race that you should get pumped to mow down on after.

1. Steak dinner

Because do you really want a whole steak with the trimmings sloshing around in your stomach for the whole 42K to the finish? Because if you jam a steak in there, it’s definitely not going to digest on time.

2. Seafood

Bland seafood in a small quantity is fine. But when you go for the rich stuff, it’ll sit in your stomach and drag your race time down. Plus, if you go for anything raw, there’s a chance of food poisoning.

3. Beer

Many runners have no problem with drinking one beer the night before a race. Some studies say that drinking beer hardly impacts performance at all. To be on the safe side, you’re obviously going to avoid knocking down multiple pints before race day. But after the marathon? You’ve pretty much earned the right do drink as much beer as you want.

4. Pizza

Thinking of putting greasy cheese into your body? Your goal before the race is to increase carbs not calories. Hey, pizza is great. The best even. Use is as motivation while running.

5. Fried chicken waffles

OK you know you can’t have this the night before any race. Ever. The no fried foods rule doesn’t need to be explained. In fact, fried chicken waffles are pretty much never a good idea. Unless it’s after a marathon. Then, go for it.

6. Nachos

Testing spicy jalapenos so close to the start of the race is just asking for things to go wrong. Stop this behaviour.

7. Green salad

Green salads are pretty much a great choice for any time other than the night before a marathon. There’s simply too much fibre. When you put fibre in your body, it’s going to make it’s way through the digestive system faster than you can get to the finish.

8. Whole wheat pasta in cream sauce

Eating whole wheat might be automatic for a lot of runners. The thing is, the night before a race you’re wanting to cut back on fibre so you don’t… you know… during your race. So do your best to steer clear of the fibre. Accidents happen, just don’t let them happen in your pants on race day. As for the cream sauce, go for something lighter. The fat content is a little too heavy…

9. The bean-stuffed burrito

It seems like it’s going to give you energy but unless you’ve experimented with a bean filled burrito before your Sunday long run, this is a poor pre-race choice but excellent thing to tear into at the pub later.

10. Double espresso

Caffeine is one of the biggest culprits for gastrointestinal issues. Especially pass on this the morning of. You’re risking having one of those embarrassing race day stories to tell your training pals.

11. Food cooked by someone who isn’t you

Even if you follow all the rules, your best bet is to just cook it yourself. You don’t want to let someone else’s carelessness in the kitchen cost you your race.

12. Pie with whipped-cream topping

Because dairy is a major causer of runner’s trots and that would be a nightmare. Just leave all heavy or sugary ingredients for the party. Then you’ve earned it.

13. Pork belly

And on that note, you can’t have bacon either.