What to Eat Before a Turkey Trot, According to Runners

For many people, Thanksgiving is a day that’s meant to be spent sitting down. First you sit in bed to watch the parade, then you move to the couch to sit and watch football, and then, eventually, you drag your ass into the dining room where you sit and gorge yourself on turkey and casseroles. But there are people out there who have a whole different type of Thanksgiving. Those freaky people who specifically seek out physical activity on Thanksgiving. They organize touch football games and go on hikes and, first thing in the morning, they participate in their local Turkey Trot.

If you’re a reluctant member of one of those families and you don’t typically participate in road races, you might be wondering how to prepare. Well, we can’t advise you on stretches (although you should certainly stretch), but we did ask some runners here at Mythical what they eat before a big run. If a compulsory Turkey Trot is on your Thanksgiving agenda this year, here’s what to buy in advance. Sorry, and we hope you get to watch some football, too! 

Pasta

Yes, duh. You gotta get those carbs in, baby. According to Runner’s World, “carbohydrates are our bodies’ preferred source of fuel for exercise, since they’re quicker and easier to break down than fat.” And that’s a good excuse to eat pasta before you hit the road in your Hokas for a 5K or 10K race. We’ve taste tested and ranked everything from the best penne to the best beef ravioli so you can actually enjoy your fuel. Our team is partial to a big bowl of La Molisana Bronze Die Spaghetti—the best spaghetti from our taste test—loaded with butter and parmesan cheese.

Peanut Butter

Several runners here at Mythical recommended eating peanut butter to fuel up before a race. We once again turned to Runner’s World to confirm that peanut butter is “a great runner’s food.” What it does is help you feel full so you don’t wind up with hunger pangs mid-race. If you like big peanut flavor, we’re partial to Jif Creamy peanut butter, but our ranking of the best peanut butter can also direct you toward the best chunky peanut butter, the best budget peanut butter, and the best natural peanut butter.

Toast

Sure, you could simply eat peanut butter off of a spoon, but carbs are your friend now that you’re a Turkey Trotter, so go ahead and slather it on some toast. If soft, squishy white bread is your jam, try Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Thick Sliced White. Or if you’re more of a wheat bread guy, try Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread.

Granola Bars

Eating something light about two hours before a long run will keep your energy steady without weighing you down. I’m sorry to say that for most of you, that means getting up at six in the morning (why must Turkey Trots start so early?) and hounding a granola bar. We’ve got high-protein, allergy-friendly, and nut-free options to gently wake up your appetite at the crack of dawn—but we also recommend sticking to low fiber options, since that’s easier on your stomach! 

Waffles

Another runner here at Mythical said they prefer frozen waffles as the vehicle for their peanut butter. All those toasty little cups on the waffle’s surface are perfect for filling up with peanut butter. Our favorite frozen waffles are Krusteaz Belgian waffles, but we also found the best tasting protein waffles if you want a little extra oomph for the Trot. 

Mashed Potatoes

Yes, we’re serious. Don’t take our word for it—take Pelaton’s word for it. Mashed potatoes are easy to digest, high in carbs, and hey, kinda on theme? Maybe you don’t want to pregame a Thanksgiving appetizer you’re going to shovel down later in the day. Understandable. But at the very least, if you’re planning a post-Thanksgiving run, this is one leftover you can turn into workout fuel pretty easily. Just sayin’.  

High-Protein Yogurt

This list is mainly aimed at those of us who aren’t super jazzed about running a 5k first thing in the morning. Getting those gains might not be our natural instinct, but why not use this opportunity to make like the gym bros and sneak some protein in before the big trot? If it helps, our recommendations don’t taste like they’re loaded with macros. You could even get really festive and add some cranberry sauce to our vanilla-infused protein yogurts for a little tart-sweet combo. (Yes, we’re geniuses, we know.) 

Bottled Water

You have to hydrate before a race. It’s rule number one. You can drink beer and eggnog later! First, lots and lots of water—pick your poison from this list. (We also found the best boxed water, if you’re trying to be especially thankful for the environment this year.)