It’s no secret runners need to take in a combination of protein, carbs and fat as soon as possible after crossing the finish line. All the better to replenish depleted glycogen stores and start the recovery process. Read more tips about recovery here.
As much as I’d like to think I want a post-race treat, the bitter fact is I’ve been known to come across the finish line nauseous. Puking? I’ve done my share. Racing is definitely an appetite suppressant for me. Typically I forego most of the food at races or give my share to my kids.
What I’d like to have: Smashburger with sweet potato fries. I actually have enjoyed exactly this, just not immediately after a race. My tummy needs a chance to settle first.
What I actually have: Water, banana, protein bar and maybe some electrolyte drink too.
Some races have pretty memorable treats at the finish line. Here are some I’ve seen:
- Deep Dish Pizza at Chicago 13.1 Sadly way too heavy for me immediately after a race, but yum.
- Popsicles and fruit smoothies at RnR Chicago YES! So refreshing as it was blazing hot.
- Giant soft, hot pretzels at the March Madness Half. Worth running those insidious hills for.
- Chili and ice cream at the Grand Rapids Marathon. Delicious but I did not partake.
- Jimmy John’s Sandwiches at RnR Denver delicious as we hung around at the post-race party.
- Brats and Beer at the Wisconsin Marathon. Pretty appropriate, don’t you think?
What’s your favorite post-race treat? What races have the best treats?
I’m Linking up with Erika, Patty and April for Tuesdays on the Run.
Truth? I like a cold beer at the finish line. But not that crappy Michelob 64. Why bother? No, that Lagunitas they served at the CARA 10 last spring was spectacular. The best was the Goose Island 312 at the Chicago marathon. My second choice? Chocolate milk.
At the Richmond half marathon, they had pizza. I had not eaten anything except a few gummy bears and pieces of a cookie since hours before the race and I swear that pizza was a little taste of heaven.
Usually though, I’m all about liquid calories because I have trouble eating after a race.
I have a hard time eating right after a race, but a few hours later I crave a burger! I do try to eat something right after I finish- a protein bar or chocolate milk usually works pretty well for me.
I went to town on some muscle milk, bread, and an apple after the marathon, and then we went and I got a beer and a bit later I got a pretzel pizza and had half a basket of chips. I’m generally not hungry, but once I start? I’M GONE!
I’m like you–I have to wait a bit–but when it hits I want a burger and fries too, accompanied by a milkshake. If I’ve just done a marathon, I eat it as soon as I want it. 🙂
I don’t eat a lot immediately afterwards, BUT after a bit I get hungry. I usually crave some type of sandwich or something.
I would eat your burger and SP fries the day before. I usually can (and do) eat after a half once I’ve had a bottle of water. I’ve seen Red Beans & Rice, Seafood Gumbo, and BBQ a few times. All pretty heavy. But yeah, I ate.
My tummy has to settle a few minutes too and then I am ready for a snack! The summer series we run has nice fresh watermelon at the finish and it is super on a hot Florida day! I loved the chocolate bowl at the Hot Chocolate race- it was delish!
Pretty much I just want water right away, or Gatorade. I love the bananas and other treats they have there. I also love out for pancakes after! When they have free beer, that’s the time I give my treats away, but not to my kids lol to hubby! He’s the beer drinker, I do not like the stuff.
The year we ran the Warrior Dash they had turkey legs, which is a great treat, but paired them with Miller Lite beer, which is so not a treat. Balance, I guess.
I would want lots and lots of electrolyte drink – and then some salty chips, too.
Mmmm….those do sound like some yummy post race treats! I would be all about the popsicle on a really hot day! 🙂
I recently tried smashburger and I hated it! 🙁 Their veggie burger was disgusting. My favorite post race treat is eggs benedict. YUM!
I always want french fries after a race but, sadly, no one ever has them. I did a half this fall where they had hot chocolate, and it was totes awesome. Popsicles after RnR Chicago were much appreciated, too.
Oh man my stomach is pretty iffy after races especially anything over 10 miles. After every half marathon my post race treat is 2 chewable Pepto Bismols;) Then I try to eat a banana and maybe a piece of bagel:) Nothing exciting. At a Polar Plunge race on New Year’s day one year they had chili as a post race food. Yikes! That sounds scary to me;)
After races I don’t have much of an appetite but I do like a banana and chocolate milk after a race. After the hot chocolate run in Philly the treats were nice especially the hot chocolate. That was actually really yummy. Btw love Smashburger! 🙂
I can’t tolerate solid food for awhile after longer races but a nice hot soft pretzel sounds good!
My favourite would have to be cold watermelon. It’s kind to iffy stomachs and tastes so good.
I rarely like to eat right after running (or during:).
In grad school when I raced almost every weekend some of the races had big parties after – I usually had a beer and called it good.
I went to a morning one that had bagels with cream cheese and a yogurt parfait bar. It was perfect! I really just want a banana and some type of carb, like a bagel. 🙂
There’s a local 5k that I run each year and one of the post race treat highlights is pizza. It feels weird to eat pizza so early in the day, and after a race, but it taste so good!
I WANT ALL OF THE PIZZA. No matter what distance, I always want a kickass burger (I.e. Kuma’s) or deep dish (Giordano’s, TYVM). <3
You are running the best races with those treats! I’m usually happy with a banana and water for a bit, but after that? ALL the food. Burgers taste especially delicious after a race.
Kiawah has a huge food tent – looks like VIP, but it is for everyone. The traditional fruits, muffins, bagels, but also – salads, pastas, soups, etc.
I’m usually not hungry after a race, either – I really don’t understand how people can drink beer after marathons! But a few races stand out in my mind when I was hungry and grateful for some food: the 2012 CIM, which was a monsoon with drenching rains and 30 mph winds had PANCAKES at the finish line. Hell to the yeahs. The finish line of both of my 50-milers had a full-on barbeque going on with hamburgers and hot dogs as well as pizza and other deliciousness, and yes, I helped myself!
It takes me an hour or so after a distance race to want to eat anything too. The popsicles and pretzels sound great though! Thanks for linking up with us!
I’m not usually in the mood to eat after a race either. I’ll take a power aid and water and then a bit later get some food.
Buffet style breakfast and FREE ice cream (all you can eat) … so that worked great for me 🙂 But I usually have to let my stomach settle also before I can eat.
I feel the same way after races! My stomach usually isn’t right for hours. After the philly half this year we went to ihop and I thought I was hungry but just couldn’t eat all that. I wish!
I can’t eat much after a race, but I’ve learned that eating something – like a bagel or banana – actually helps settle my stomach. No way on chili, but I have enjoyed chocolate milk …
The race I did this weekend had stacks of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the finish line, haha! I typically want something salty…like potato chips or pretzels.
Not immediately after the race but eventually Chipotle veggie bowl with lots of guac. Yum! Or making veggie burgers and sweet potato fries at home.
Oh my gosh! Smash burger and truffle fries with a chocolate milksahke. I dream about that but there is not a smashburger for many miles 🙁
I love chocolate milk after a race. I drank 2 right after the RnRNOLA this past year. On training runs I love a soft pretzel or waffles afterwards. 🙂
forever a week behind in blog reading. 🙂 i love all yummy things post race. oak barrel, wisconsin, and wineglass all win best post race food. the oak barrel race in tn is so small that some locals even bake. it was AMAZING.