Post-Marathon Meal Recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Hi there- DH is running his first marathon this weekend and I know what to cook him beforehand (I think) but I'm not sure what foods/meals will be best to help in the recover in the couple of days after the marathon.

Any BTDTs out there that could share? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

beer

[Anonymous]

Carmines! Nom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carmines! Nom.

Carmines would be enjoyable but he wants to eat at home, probably in his PJs! I could cook some Italian food, though pasta is the pre-race dinner.

Beer - does that mean any simple carbs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:beer

Seriously. The beer I had after the race was the best one I ever had!
Honestly, it's whatever he wants. Ask him what sounds good. Also make it something that can be on the table quickly once you get home.
This was my order of things:
1. Shower
2. Beer
3. Food

Best wishes for the run!

[Anonymous]

I always want something super salty and full of carbs after running a marathon. What are his favorite junky dinner foods? Does he like pizza, nachos, burgers, fries, etc? And yes, a 6 pack of his favorite beer. And 2 5-lb bags of ice in the freezer for an ice bath when he walks in the door.

[Anonymous]

Nice of you to want to do that! Chances are that on his long runs he has developed favorite foods he craves and looks forward to eating when he's done. I love shoving a combination of sweet and savory stuff in my mouth - taking turns with each. Something very salty - then very chocolaty. I tend to eat so much immediately post-marathon that I'm not very hungry for a big meal several hours later, but that's just me. Everyone is different.

[Anonymous]

Add some protein too. He needs it for muscle recovery.

[Anonymous]

my friends and I craved coca cola after we ran a marathon together. We each drank several cans. After marathon foods: pasta.

[Anonymous]

Ask him--it really depends. Usually I feel like I don't want to eat anything for a good while (have to force down some GU and whatever post-race stuff is offered), then later and next day I want anything and everything! See what he craved after his longest training runs (but maybe didn't necessarily indulge in). Last one I ran all I wanted was Chipotle for days!

[Anonymous]

I've run marathons and a few long-distance triathlons. My post-race meal of choice is usually a burger, fries and a beer. Salt, protein, carbs and fat. All the healthy food groups.

I'm actually not kidding. Your muscles are screaming for protein. Your body is dehydrated and wants the salt.

[Anonymous]

I have run five marathons. Going into any of them I could never have told you what my food craving would be for that day's lunch or dinner, and certainly not for the following few recovery days.
The bet you can do is tell him that once he gets a craving post rce, you'll cook it or order and pick it up from somewhere. I know that for me it was often pizza and beer from my favorite pizza shop.
Finally, the night after the race, When he is well fed and lubricated with beer, give him the ultimate gift - some good sexual activity that requires little movement on his part. Catch my drift?

[Anonymous]

Ran MCM 2 years ago for the first time. Stopping at Five Guys on the way home so I could have a double bacon cheeseburger, fries and a coke was the best decision ever.

[Anonymous]

DH always likes burgers and fries or steak or something really heavy after a marathon, and lots of water and soda, and later in the evening, a beer. He eats so much pasta before his long runs while training that we don't eat pasta for a while after the marathon's over.

Good luck on Sunday to all the runners out there!

[Anonymous]

Chili or burritos. My friend has done the Avon walk (39.3 miles in 2 days) and she goes for burritos at the end of day two. My neighbor did the marathon a few years back and there was a neighborhood chili cookoff that night. He was quite happy to sit and eat a big bowl of chili and drink a beer.