Lessons in Carbo-Loading

** Disclaimer **

   These methods are not approved by any physicican/nutritionist/Runner’s World/the FDA/or sane people in general.  But they have proven successful for me.  So if you’re somewhat mentally unstable, slightly injured, and/or a recovering alcoholic, they may work for you as well.

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The days leading up to a long training run or race are super fun.  You spend 90% of your time fretting over what you’re about to make your body do, and the other 10%  about what you’re putting into your body.  And trying to avoid tripping over a curb and tearing your ACL, or some equally life-ruining fluke accident.  But more importantly, the fueling!  Oh the fueling!

Drink lots of water.  Better get some protein.  Oh and some fiber – but not too much!  Avoid foods that make you gassy.  Or constipated.  Or bloated/irritable/pukey.  Lots of whole grains!  Carbs carbs carbs!  Drink more water.  Did you take your vitamins?  Are tortilla chips a carb?  A  10-person serving of guacamole?  Healthy fats!  I’ll have the fajitas… but no beans!  Well ok I’ll have a margarita… when in Mexico, right?!

The real important thing about fueling is knowing what works for you.  Not Kara Goucher or your iron-stomached boyfriend.  YOU.  I start paying close attention to my diet the week before and make a few key changes :

• Stop eating froyo for dinner.  I’ve argued that the calcium gets my bones ready for the race, but the chocolate-covered-sugar-rolled-everything that goes on top doesn’t do much for my nutritionals.
• Break up with diet pop.  It makes me gassy and burpy.
• Don’t try that new Indian place you’ve been dying to go to.
• Eat PB&J.  Eat JIF from jar, avoid feeling like a 6 year old.
• Eat pizza.  Order fancy toppings to avoid feeling like a broke college student.
• Drink lots of coffee.  Because the world is a better place when I do.

After priming for a week, the night before is when the real magic happens.  It’s time to full-out carbo-load, baby!  Here’s what got me through 26.2 miles of rain, hills, and estrogen this weekend at NWM :

The finest of food groups - Pre-race CARBS!

–     Two apple cinnamon pancakes w syrup.  For $8.95 I thought they should’ve been laced with miracle drugs, or at least the meaning of life.

–     A giant bowl of oatmeal with raisins & walnuts, sprinkled with a little brown sugar.  Why waste precious energy chewing when you can just swallow your food?

–     And 16 ounces of frosty, crisp, Pabst Blue Ribbon.  Because if it’s worked for dad all these years, why wouldn’t it work for me on Race Eve?  (bonus : Race insomnia?  Not here.  A nice barley pop will put you right to sleep)

So there ya have it.  Take it or leave it, call AA, whatever.  It works for me and I see no reason to cut my favorite carb from my pre (and post) race rituals.  If it aint broke…

Sarah Soon-To-Be

Side note : Pabst, if you’re reading this, call me.  Don’t you need a counter to Michelob’s Lance Armstrong ads?  I see a promising partnership on the horizon…

 

 

 

Because sometimes Gatorade just won't do...