Personally I'd suggest you don't deviate too much from your usual diet Robyn. Obviously having a 'cleaner' diet for a week up to the race will help a little, but you've been training for a half marathon, and fuelling your body in a way that's felt right, so I wouldn't make any sweeping changes. The last thing you want is an 'incident' mid-race because you've eaten something that's different from usual.

My personal pre-race eating routine (and pre-long training run eating routine):

Day before race - breakfast bacon & eggs; lunch quinoa & peanut butter (this is my key meal!); dinner meat and salad.
Day of race - plenty of water, a couple of energy drinks, a couple of strong coffees - and off I go!

Personally no food for me before a run, but that's not for everyone. Whatever has worked best for you in training will work well in a race.

whoops of course!!! proving my naivety chaps!!! Thanks!!!xxx

Beat me to it Kate!!!

Robyn, the choc milk is the protein. Good luck! Please let us know how it goes.

Derek thanks!! I like the choccy milk and mars bar idea!!!

planning on packing a sports drink and water and will get a banana at the end from race sponsors! I was just thinking about the protein thing as on another thread there was a debate over how soon to eat after a long run/race for muscle recovery, it was suggested 20 mins to 1 hr and i won't be home so need food on the go!

will have a wee' browse of the yoghurt bars and see if anything stands out, i will survive on my race high I'm sure

Thanks again x

Hi Robyn,

Post race choccy milk and Mars bar always does it for me, and again don't forget the liquids whether be sports drinks for salt replacement or plain water the key is rehydration and sip regulary for the rest of the day. Bars are usually carb based and I can't think of any protein rich bars at the moment unless you get a yoghurt based bar.

Also a post race banana never goes amiss.

Thanks guys,

I will ditch the steak on sat mike, gonna go for brown rice and brown pasta based dishes and will take your advice about the sports drinks which i normally only have post run!! will try the banana on race day about an hour before too, thinnk I would struggle to do the sweetie thing while running and don't want to try anything new on race day....

I'm on the water as we speak Dave and off for my last gentle run, bit of stretching and walking for the rest of week with lots of carbs, and some lean protein thrown in for good measure, any ideas whats the best post run protein bar to shove in my bag as will be a good hour or so getting home?

Apreciate all the advice, am getting nervous especially as my hubby is now out with calf injury so sponsorship all on my head!!! just want to do myself proud as have trained really hard!!  Thanks again guys xxx

Spot on, Mike!

1) Water.

2) Carb loading for a few days (not just the night before).

3) Water.

4) Carbs before and during, protein after - & the sooner the better.

5) Water.

And don't forget the water!

Robyn

I would go carbohydrating - if that's a word from Thursday evening. You could have meals based around rice, pasta and baked potato if that is your thing or cous cous. Carbo before and protein afterwards is the way to do it - I would definitely dump the steak on the night before. Cooked meat takes along time to go through the digestive tract and I wouldn't want to carry that around a HM course. 

If you have a good tolerance to milk then porridge is good on the morning of the race. If not go for brown bread and honey or jam/marmalade. You might sneak half a banana about an hour before the off. Above all, again from Thursday afternoon, stay within 6 inches of a sports drink and sip regularly. You might get through two between Thusday and Friday but the small amounts of energy will be tucked away in the crevices for you to draw on during the race and you will be properly hydrated.

I have a sweet tooth so again before a race I will munch a few jelly beans or liquorice allsorts - just 3 gives you 90 calories, so great on the run!

Good luck - let us know how you get on and what you chose to do.