What to Eat Before a Race

We asked our Facebook Fans and Twitter followers what they prefer to eat the night before a race, and here’s what they recommended:

Dinner:
Pasta
Pasta, chicken, and a vegetable/salad
Pizza
Baked Potato
Tacos
Waffle night with team :)
Hamburger or cheeseburger
Fettuccini alfredo with shrimp

Drinks:
Water
Strawberry lemonade
Jamba Juice
Gatorade

And, some submitted their pre-race breakfast meals too:
Oatmeal
Toast
Powerbar
Clif Bar
Pancakes

These answers are consistent with the meals recommended by Peggy Pletcher, a registered dietitian, who suggests athletes consume diets high in carbohydrate (about 50-60% of your total calories) to fuel the body properly. Carbs such as pasta, rice, or a baked potato are good choices. And according to Hal Higdon, Runner's World writer and coach, the remainder of your caloric intake should consist of about 15-20% lean protein and 30% fat.

Do you have any other pre-race favorites to add?  Leave your comment below.