Running a cross country race means running to be the best for many miles depending on what course or what competition a runner is in. There are key components that can go into a runner’s performance depending on if they are competing for a PR or to finish first, from what they wear to the pre-race hype songs to the way a runner pumps their arms while running. Many Sequiots would argue that one of the most important factors going into a race is what they eat before a meet.
Junior Grant Sooley has been running cross country for a couple of months now. He has spent some time figuring out the best snacks or meals to eat before a big race. Sully has tried many different foods now to perfect his pre-meet routine to ensure that he will run to his best potential and has finally figured it out.
“I like to eat a banana before a race because it’s a snack that is light and healthy,” Sooley said. “The night before a meet, I usually eat meats like chicken or steak.”
Bananas are proven to be a very good snack for runners to eat because of their high potassium content. Potassium can reduce the risk of cramps or discomfort during a race.
Sophomore Angela Ortiz has been running cross country since sixth grade and knows a thing or two about what to eat and what not to eat before running a race. Ortiz does not have a strict routine before a meet, but she knows what works for her and what does not.
¨I usually eat fruit or a granola bar before a race; I feel like eating something before I compete gives me the energy to run,” Ortiz said. ¨I also make sure to hydrate the night before.”
Though some people prefer to eat something before a race, it is not everyones go-to move. Junior Anton Augusto is a multi-sport athlete, running for his second year of cross country this season. Augusto is one of the top runners for the ACHS varsity cross country team. He has experienced how different foods can affect how he feels when he runs, including the one time he ate a banana before a race and threw up after running. Ultimately, Augusto has come to the conclusion that eating nothing before a race is the only way to go.
“You don’t want the food in your system to be jumping up and down while you’re in the middle of a race, I think you should stay as light as possible.” Augusto said.
What a runner eats before a meet is completely based on their preference and their experience, so it could be different for everyone.
