Well I had a 5K run today (3.1 miles) it was a blast I got first for my age grop(16&under) and a time of 27 min on to the question i knew from track that eating before you run was a bad deal. (the race started at 9a.m.) so i decided that i would get up early and just eat a half of a fried egg sandwich. Well i did that and the whole race i had a guy about 10 steps behind me and no one in frount. It was to the point where we a just hit the road agian and the finish line was almost right there but there was some time to pick up speed. Well i was about to and i felt breackfast trying to come up and after about 3 tryes here it came i had to stop and the guy passed me well by the time i was done the guy was across the finish line but luckly no one else was. after that i felt alot better. sorry if i grossed any one out. I got another race to run on june 16 at 8am this time do i eat or not and what ot eat? oh i was talking to the girl behind me and she is in cross country in high school (where i'll be this year) and she said that after a while you learn how to barf and run at the same time sounds fun can't wait (yeah right)

-- lindsey (l_shamhart@hotmail.com), June 02, 2001

Answers

Hi Lindsey, sorry about your turn of luck at the race, better luck next time! My Dad used to run marathons and never ate less than 4 to 5 hours before a race, except a glass of juice or water right before, never more than a half a banana or apple, nothing greasy especially! He would eat a rather full complex carbohydrate meal the evening before the event, whole wheat pasta was a favorite, or several baked potatoes and lots of vegetables. Basically, your body is going to burn your previous days food as "fuel" during the race, not what you ate that morning, so make sure you eat healthy the night before!

Best of luck next try, you'll do better next time!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), June 02, 2001.

when I was in high school,, I used to carb eat the night before a big race or game,, game a good stedy fuel supply for the next day

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), June 02, 2001.

Lindsey, I don't know much about diets before running, but I do know that positive thinking and support will help in most any situations. Sounds like to me you ran a GREAT race and have nothing to be ashamed of. For your next race I give you my full support! GO LINDSEY GO! GO LINDSEY GO! GO LINDSEY GO! GOOD LUCK!

-- Mark in N.C. Fla. (deadgoatman@webtv.net), June 03, 2001.