What To Eat Before And After Your Run to Maximize Performance
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Peak performance on race day — or, really, any day you want to get in a good jog — isn’t just about hitting the mileage. You also need the right fueling strategy in place.
When it comes to what to eat before and after your run, Andrew Kastor, coach of the ASICS Mammoth Track Club and LA Road Runners, shares his three essential meals (French toast is involved):
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Night Before: Keep your meals simple. “Eat healthy and maybe turn up the carbs a little bit,” he says. Avoid anything spicy as well as extremely fibrous foods.
Morning Of: Roughly ninety minutes to two hours before running, he recommends eating a little bit of carbs. Coach K’s go-to pick is a small bowl of oatmeal topped with a little bit of butter and a sliced banana.
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Post-Run: Even if you’re still relishing in the runner’s high, your muscles are screaming for attention and require brunch. And, French toast with fruit is Kastor-approved. “You get carbs with the bread, protein with the eggs and the fruit provides vitamins and nutrients.” Another suggestion—a burrito filled with eggs, bacon, bell peppers and salsa.
And considering Coach K has helped his elite runners break records (including his wife, Deena Kastor, an Olympic bronze medalist and American marathon-record holder), we’re going to trust him on this one!
By Meg Lappe
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