Running A 5K? Here's What To Eat & Drink The Night Before

You've finally worked up the courage to register for your first 5K. But before you hit the streets, there are some things you should know.

When it comes to your event preparation, nutrition is where your main focus should be. The food you eat the night before will be the food in your system during your event. Instead of going for a greasy takeout meal, try eating a dinner consisting of dark leafy greens such as spinach or kale, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower, carbohydrates such as sweet potato or yam, and a moderate amount of lean protein such as chicken or fish.

On the day of your event, eat a good meal approximately two hours before the event starts. A good pre-race meal could be something as simple as a small sweet potato. Just make sure to avoid anything that can cause any stomach issues during the event!

Hydration is key when it comes to avoiding muscle cramps and premature fatigue. Make sure you start hydrating about 24 hours before your event start time. Don't worry about drinking fancy electrolyte drinks. Good old-fashioned water will do the job.

Standing around too much before the event can lead to stiff muscles and muscle cramping during the race. Warming up before the event can help you loosen up and work out some of the pre-race jitters.

Because of all the excitement surrounding your first event, it's easy to start at a faster pace than you've been training for. But it's extremely important to start at a slower pace than you think you're capable of. The pre-race adrenaline will wear off sooner than you think.

Once you get about halfway through the race, you can push harder if your body feels good. Part of the fun during these events is testing your body's capabilities. Simply increase your pace to what you think is sustainable for the remainder of the course.

Don't feel performance pressure during the race. Many people simply walk their first 5K, and if that's all you can do, that's just fine. You can also do a combination of walking/running if that's what you can handle. Just make sure to go at a pace that's sustainable for you and that will still leave you smiling when you cross the finish line.