Before Workout Food

The food a runner eats before a workout is important to keep the energy level up, but it also is way of depleting hunger pains if you are running in a really long race. If you compete when you run, then you should eat or have gel pack about 20-30 minutes before your event. Less food should be consumed the closer you are to your event. Everything that you eat before a run to compete or not should be healthy and a food that contains carbohydrates. The closer you are to a race you might want to eat fruit or someting lighter. The majority of what you eat depends upon what you like, and what your stomach can or cannot handle.

Fruit Bowl Energy Gel Gatorade Bottles Energy Bar

Example of What to Eat Before you Run

1 hour or less before competition
  • fresh fruit( such as apples, watermelon, peaches, grapes, or oranges)
  • Energy gels
  • up to 1 1/2 cups of a sports drink

2 to 3 hours before competition
  • fresh fruits
  • bread, bagels, pasta
  • yogurt
  • water

3 to 4 hours before competition
  • fresh fruit
  • bread, bagels
  • pasta with tomato sauce
  • baked potatoes
  • energy bar
  • cereal with milk
  • yogurt
  • toast/bread with a bit of peanut butter, lean meat, or cheese
  • water