Eat a larger meal for breakfast on race day.
Modify your normal pre-race schedule so you're consuming your largest meal with carbohydrates, protein and fat in the morning. This could include eggs with veggies and cheese, toast and fruit for example. Having a well balanced, easy-to-digest meal with a little fat and protein will keep you satisfied through the morning, and avoid hunger as the race is starting. Also stay away from high-fiber or fatty foods or anything that can cause stomach upset. For example, I avoid eating salads the day before my race, as it causes digestive issues for me. Knowing how your body reacts to foods on the run will earn you brownie points and reduces the likelihood of pitstops on the course.
Consume a light lunch, similar to the amount you'd eat before a morning race.
For lunch, eat a lighter meal consisting of carbohydrates, a little protein and foods low in fat and fiber. Give yourself at least 5 to 6 hours to digest this meal; so if your night race begins at 7 p.m., eat lunch no later than 2 p.m. to allow proper digestion. Foods like an almond-butter-and-jelly sandwich and banana work well, as it sticks to your ribs and isn't a high-volume food.
More: How to Create the Perfect Pre-Race Meal
Eat a light pre-race snack.
Sip fluids throughout the day and stop one hour before the race to avoid having to go a half-mile into the race. Eat a high-carbohydrate snack two hours before the race start (piece of fruit, bar). Drinking an electrolyte beverage like water with a NUUN electrolyte tab, coconut water or your favorite sports drink 2 to 3 hours prior to the event is a great way to top off carbohydrate and electrolyte stores for longer races that are two or more hours in duration.
