What to eat before Cross Country?

Question

I run for Cross Country practice just 30 minutes after school ends everyday and like to eat something rather than run on an empty stomach.

How much and what should I eat? Today I just ate a banana....

Answer 1

a banana is pretty good. i like to eat obout a half a pack of peanut butter crackers and on the days of the meets, try to stay away from really greasy foods. i like to stick to the lighter foods so that i wont feel it in my stomache while im running. and also try to keep a water bottle on you all day and just casually sip it so that your body stays thoroughly hydrated.

hope i could help. good luck!

Answer 2

You should eat a couple of snacks- a banana is good, an apple- fruits but you can eat sugary stuff too if that makes you hyper and want to run on and stuff. Eat the amount you feel you need- not too much not too little, just a snack is really all you need though.

Answer 3

When I was in cross country, I was lucky if I had a bag of chips to munch on during lunch (XC was 6th period).  If I were you, I'd stick with any type of fruit or vegatables (carrot sticks, etc).  For race events, I'd always try to drink some water (though, of course, not too much) and eat a powerbar.

Our XC coaches always said that it was better to eat pasta after runs.  

I'd also look through runners magazines (ie. www.http://www.runnersworld.com/channel/0,71... for additional help. :)

Answer 4

hmmmmm  yea that sounds good! anything healthy but not too much to stuff urself! you wanna be energized but not full!!!  

Answer 5

simple. To answer your question: if you want to have maximun power this is what you gotta eat. OK, 3 days before your race you should cut down on eating too much fiber then on the 3rd day and 2 and a day before you should load up on ciberhidrates. On the race day you should get up a few hours before the run and drink 500ml of water then how low GI foods eg: eggs and whole meal bread. and have a drink of juice. then during the race you should have 1 jelly baby for every km you run.... Thats what I do before my marathons 42.2km races.

I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 6

I had a similar problem back in 1964, and was my HS's only marathoner. Since I had converted both study hall and PE to being on the Varsity Cross Country team, I had to run 1 hour after lunch! I mostly just put up with it, as I needed good carb cramming for the job ahead! But I also found that drinking a caffeinated beverage, the caffeine stimulated stomach processes and got-er-done by the time I was actually running, at the approximate 1 hr 15 minute point, after stretching, suiting up, and whatever. I avoided a heavy protein lunch, of course. Remember that your actual goal should be to get yourself the hard body of a distance runner, not to beat somebody or impress a stopwatch. Don't hurt yourself too much. Regards, Larry.

Answer 7

You should always eat a good meal for example you should run home make some soop so if you vomit it willk be liquid instead of food. Oh youm should always eat a slice of chesee after you run.

HI

Bye.  

Answer 8

Most runners don't like to eat with anything in their stomach as you're probably already aware of, especially if you're going to be away from the track or out on a course where there are no restrooms (if you get my drift).

I suggest a candy bar or an energy drink. Fruit is also good but a banana doesn't always sit very good with me so I'd suggest an apple or an orange. But it's more important that the food you eat satisfies your need. Just don't run on a full stomach is my suggestion.

You might also try eating an hour or an hour and a half before practice as opposed to immediately before you run.

Carb loading the night before competitions is always recommended as well.

Good luck on your season.

Enjoy!

Answer 9

you can eat a warm up power bar before practice and then after you can eat a recovery power bar.