What I Ate Wednesday #17 – Marathon Food
Happy Wednesday! We are officially half way through the week, which means it is time to share our latest food pictures! Many people have been asking about what I ate leading up to my marathon since I mentioned in this post, that I was not eating grains (i.e, bread, brown rice, etc) like I had for my previous marathons. So, to day I will dump a bunch of food pictures on you of meals that I ate between Friday and Sunday after the race! My diet consisted of mostly vegetables, lean proteins (especially 96% lean ground beef for iron), cherries, Lara bars, yogurt, ricotta and cacao nibs (which are a good source of iron). I ate about a 40/40/20 percent protein/carb/fat split both days before the race. A typical marathoner will eat anywhere from 55-80% carbs the day before the race (this is what I have done in the past). However, this nutrition plan left me feeling very light on my feet and ready to run! I felt the best I ever have before and during a race! And despite the rain, wind and crazy new nutrition plan this year, I managed to run the entire race without stopping and even set a P.R!I finished in the top 20% of women and top 30% of the entire marathon group!
I am going to write a separate post about my food choices, endurance levels, recovery, etc because I feel it deserves some attention. Many people have criticized me for eating this way prior to the race and I would like to share how the experience as a whole was and how it’s more about listening to your body than following the ‘rules’ of preparing for a marathon! 
And now….onto the food!
Figs, peanut butter and sweetened ricotta
Cherries, Coconut Flour/Protein pancakes, apple butter and sweetened ricotta
Baked spaghetti squash, turkey and hemp seed burger, avocado
TVP, shredded chicken, dried cranberries and pistachios
Veggies galore! Zucchini, eggplant, brussels sprouts, avocado, portobello mushrooms, ground beef and ricotta
Cherries, coconut wrap (Thank you Natalie!), sweetened ricotta and cacao nibs
Egg white, flax, cinnamon and chia noatmeal and ricotta with cherries and cacao nibs
PB&J Lara Bar with sweetened ricotta and cacao nibs…..best combo ever! 😉
Streamed broccoli, zucchini, portobello mushrooms and an awful shaped hemp seed burger!
Peanut flour protein pancakes, cherries and sweetened ricotta
spaghetti squash, broccoli and hemp burger
Some snacks I had through out the days…..there are a few lara bar pics missing!
Pre race dinner — GIGANTIC salad with lettuce, tomato, carrots, mushrooms, ground beef, ricotta and italian seasoning plus a side of zucchini and portobello mushrooms!
30 minutes before the race started I ate this kind bar. Then during the race I had my water bottle that had a scoop of pre workout in it and some BCAA’s. I also took glutamine and beta alanine before the race started.
I had full intentions of eating pizza, pancake house pancakes or a cheese burger for dinner, but by the time we got home, I was too exhausted so I made egg whites with 2 slices of swiss cheese, broccoli, zucchini and ketchup…I was craving the salt from the ketchup!
And for dessert I had Flipz….and WAY TOO MANY Reese’s pieces!! Oooopsss…..boy did my tummy hurt the next day! ;( That’s what happens when you don’t eat junk food…..ever! haha
Back at our hotel after the race…I was soaked and dying for a shower, but I needed one picture with my medal! It was just too darn wet and windy at the race to take one there!
And of course, post race I had my famous Cherries N Cream Milkshake, did a ton of foam rolling and stretching and then sat in the car for a long 5 hour drive back home! Of course, it was all worth it!
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*What is your pre-race meal plan look like?
*What is your favorite splurge food?
*Have you linked up to Jenn’s W.I.A.W post yet? If not, click below for details!
And since we are talking about Halloween Treats….I guess you can consider my Flipz and Reese’s my treat….even though they aren’t healthy! 
