Marathon Meal Plan - Friday

Overall dietary guidelines:

Contrary to previous beliefs, the week before the marathon isn’t all about piling on the pasta. In fact, to maximize carbohydrate (fuel) stores before the race, runners only need to start ‘fuelling up' or ‘carb-loading' two or three days before the race (three days if you prefer a slower increase in your daily intake). Read more in our guide to carb-loading.

Earlier in the week, it may be useful to start including snacks to train the gut in preparation for increased carbohydrate intake in the days leading up to the race. 

As a general rule, what you eat should be different depending on the training demands for that day (or when you are preparing for the race itself) to promote sufficient fuelling and recovery. Discover what to eat on different training days with our training meal plans for runners.

We’ve included examples of the race training program from the London Marathon to plan your nutrition for this day.

Friday training:

20-minute easy run
* Beginner's guidelines as recommended by the London Marathon.

Friday nutrition:

48 hours of carb-loading begins here! This doesn't mean grazing on carbohydrate-rich foods all day, but instead, try to focus on including carbohydrate sources in each meal and snack. As you can see from the options, it can be very enjoyable.

Evening snacks are an option to increase your daily carbohydrate intake.

Don't worry if your body weight increases by 1-2kg in the period before the race, as the body stores water alongside the carbohydrate (which is stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen) – think of this as fuel in the tank, ready for the race!

Breakfast

Mexican beans & avocado on toast
This vibrant, vegan breakfast contains a good balance of nutrients to start the day.

Morning snack

Feel-good muffins
This muffin recipe contains fiber-rich prunes and oats. Tuck in!

Lunch

Tuna sweet potato jackets
If your standby lunch is baked potatoes with tuna, switch to sweet potatoes and a fresh, spicy topping. This is budget-friendly and low-fat too.

Afternoon snack

Peach Melba smoothie
Blend peaches, raspberries, orange juice, and fresh custard into a fruity, creamy shake that's low in fat.

Dinner

Cajun blackened chicken with super green quinoa
Chicken breasts provide valuable lean protein and are perfectly paired with a colorful quinoa-based salad.

Dessert/evening snack

Apple & blackberry crumble
The fruit is a good source of antioxidants and carbohydrates – ideal for increasing your overall carb intake. Enjoy!