5 Marathoners & What They’re Eating Tonight — Spaghetti Ahead!

Whether you’re running or not, the energy surrounding tomorrow’s TCS New York City Marathon is infectious. And, energy is exactly what the runners need to carry them across the finish line — and all 26.2 miles before it.

Training is only part of the game-day strategy; nutrition plays a huge role as well, and that includes the night-before meal. “The most important part about eating before a marathon,” says Brooke Alpert, MS, RD, CDN, founder of B Nutritious, “is to never try something new on race day, or the night before.” Marathons are no time to wing it. “You want to make sure whatever meals and food options you are eating are all something that will agree with you and make you feel good while you run the following day,” Alpert adds. Common troublemakers in this department include high-fiber foods (which, for some runners, can lead to digestive discomfort and stomach cramping) and high-sugar options (which can cause some major GI distress).

So, what exactly are tomorrow’s runners eating? Carbs, carbs, and more carbs. Read on for pre-race nutrition tips and the meals that five marathoners (from pros to first-timers) are going to eat tonight — plus, what’s on the menu for the New York Road Runner’s Marathon Eve Dinner.