Running the Med City Marathon? Here’s What You Should Be Eating This Week.

I'm so excited for the Med City Marathon coming up on Sunday. This will be my second full marathon.  By now you've put in a couple months of training so you're probably getting a little anxious too. What should you be doing this final week? Runner's World says you need to give your legs a break and start loading up on carbs. 

Here's how Runner's World suggests eating the week of your race:

Five to seven days out:

"Make sure you’re consuming at least three grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight during this time period to meet your needs."

Three to four days out: Up the carbs.

"Boosting carbohydrate intake to 3.5 to four grams for every pound of body weight (about 600 grams per day for a 150-pound runner) will further increase your glycogen stores. "

Two to three days out: Cut out bulk.

"Limiting high-fiber foods such as bran cereals, whole grains, and large amounts of vegetables for the few days prior to a race has multiple benefits. Research from the Australian Institute of Sport shows that eating a lower fiber diet can help lighten the weight of material in the intestines."

Two to four hours out: Eat!

"A pre-race meal supplies extra carbs to top off glycogen stores, particularly in the liver, which will help steady blood sugar levels during the race. Aim for .5 to one gram for every pound of body weight (about 75 to 150 grams for a 150-pound runner)—but only eat the higher range if you have four full hours to digest."

To read the full article which contains a bunch of great information, click here.

Good luck to all of you that are running.  I'll meet you at the finish line for a beer!