One of the biggest races happens in San Francisco every year in October, it’s the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. It has become insanely popular because of who organizes it, for the beautiful sites of the city and as well as for happens at the finish line: firemen in tuxedos handing you a Tiffany necklace at the beach. One of the sponsors this year is Whole Foods Market, known for its high-quality natural and organic products and local community ties.
Popular among the fitness community
Whole Foods has become a well-known destination (yes, it’s a destination, their store’s are a “transcendent experience”) among the fitness community for their organic products, gluten-free options, and local produce. The whole store is basically a healthy-food option and with many members of the active community looking to make healthier food options, it has become the place to shop. With the birth of our daughter several years ago, we started looking for organic foods for her to start eating. I started reading labels like it was an homework assignment. I’m comfortable saying that 90% of what we give her is organic and having places to shop that cater those needs is important.
An organic score! From dinner to healthy snack options for the entire family.
Meal-prep all set, just for you.
Make meals easy with their freshly prepared Take ‘n’ Shake options.
Pre-Race Fuel
When Whole Foods Market reached out to me to share a pre-race meal, my first thought was to share what I tend to eat leading up to race day: PASTA. It’s a staple in most runner’s routine race week and I wanted to share a simple version, as well as one with options you can have any day of the week.
Ingredients: Tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt, extra-virgin olive-oil, pasta
Additions: spinach, mushrooms, feta cheese
I made the marinara sauce in a blender, it’s pretty simple and you can adjust as needed for taste. The First Lady eats her pasta plain, so her plate was pretty straight-forward. We added a side of corn to make sure she gets some veggies on her plate. I’ve also previously blended carrots in the sauce as another option to make sure that veggies are involved in the eating process. It adds a different taste to what some might consider, normal pasta sauce. For us, I separately sautéed mushrooms and spinach in a separate pan to add on top of the pasta with some feta cheese as well. If this was race week, I would eat the pasta plain without the mushrooms, spinach, and feta, but adding those options helps to mix things up — add some crushed red peppers for some kick!
Organic dinner for the First Lady (our daughter)
Organic dinner with options (mushrooms, spinach, feta cheese) to mix things up… add crushed red peppers for a kick.
Nike Women’s Half Marathon (in San Francisco) Giveaway
As a sponsor, Whole Foods Market has given me FOUR guaranteed race entries to giveaway to YOU! These are non-paid entries, which means you are responsible for paying the race registration fee and any travel expenses, but your spot is guaranteed. And since race entry through the random draw has closed, these are pretty much gold — er, perhaps Tiffany silver?
FOUR randomly selected winners will be selected on Friday, Aug. 22 and must confirm before Aug. 25.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow Whole Foods on the interwebs:
Twitter: @WholeFoodsNorCA
Facebook: /WFMWalnutCreek (Walnut Creek, CA location)
Instagram: @wholefoodsmarket
What is your pre-race fuel?
Running this race would be a dream come true!
I like a banana and oatmeal before long runs and races! Keeps me full!
My pre race fuel is drinking NUUN in my water.
30 minutes pre-race, a slice of GF toast with natural pb and 1/2 a banana. My go-to oatmeal, about 2 hours pre-race, is cooked with sliced bananas and almond milk, then I toss some chopped walnuts on top. The night before? Salmon pasta! Good fats and carbs, with some spinach in it.
I’m always eating oatmeal before a race and banana. Sometimes, if it’s a marathon I’ll eat a pop tart because I can get away with it.
I usually have toast with peanut butter.
I would love to run this race – was hoping to win the lottery for it, but unfortunately did not!
Would love to be able to run in memory of my Aunt!! Night before I normally have grilled chicken with pasta. Morning of is always toast
I love eating/drinking Chuice. It has 45 of mother nature’s ingredients in it! http://chuice.com/
Peanut butter is my fuel!
I like to eat eggs, avocado, and berries. Good fats and good sugars!
bananas are my super food!!
Good luck to us!
I’ve always wanted to run this race!!! I recently moved across the country from my best running buddy and she runs this every year! I’d love to be able to join her!!!! :D
I like a banana and oatmeal usually before long runs.
I always fuel with a barrel, pb& j
Barrel…let’s try BAGEL! So much for autocorrect! LOL
I fuel with an apple and nut butter
I like this giveaway. Unlike the others I’ve seen, where you have to fund raise for the entry. I said I wouldn’t do this one again, but if I randomly win…then it was meant to be. xoxo, ganeeban
Ny bagels!!
Rice cake with almond butter & banana!!
I have such tummy issues I’m always afraid to eat before! But when I do, it’s a bagel thin with peanut butter.
I love oatmeal! Add in some nuts and fruit, perfect!
I fuel the week prior with lots of vegetables and sweet potatoes. I fuel the morning of the race with a protein shake made with almond milk, almond butter, banana and green apple…scoop of protein. My fingers are crossed!
My go to breakfast is toast with peanut butter!
My pre-race fuel is either oatmeal or pb toast!
What a giveaway! My pre-race fuel is usually a piece of toast with PB and half a banana – standard and boring because it works (and I love it!). I also often use a shot of X2Performance.
I have been wanting to sign up for my first half marathon… and if I win this raffle it will be a sign to JUST DO IT (Nike style!)
Pre-race favorite? Perfect Fuel chocolate :-)
Smoothie/oatmeal/banana
I small apple, a teaspoon of peanut butter, half a quest bar.
I fuel with a whole wheat English muffin topped with peanut butter and sliced bananas.
Greek yogurt with a banana!
Pre-race fuel is 1/2 bagel with peanut butter and a banana. BAM!
Lately my pre-race fuel has been Vega’s pre-workout energizer.
Toast with nut butter is the best pre-race fuel. Nike women’s half is a bucket list race for me.
My pre-race fuel is toast and Santa Cruz organic peanut butter!
Slice of white bread and PB!
Pre race…peanut butter and honey on wheat…and a banana.
I love love love Whole Foods and am so glad I have one less than 10 minutes away. My preface fuel is overnight oats with hemp and flax .. and my race fuel is PB& J with th 365 brand organic peanut butter! The best! Nike is one of the funnest races in my favorite city to run in SF ❤️
I loveee half a bagel topped with peanut butter and half a banana. And boy would I LOVEEEEEE to win this entry!!!
Clif bar.
I like a banana with a little sunflower seed butter (I’m allergic to nuts). I would love to get into Nike. a big group of my friends got in but I didn’t. WAAAHH!
My pre-race fuel is a bagel with shmear, a banana, and a small glass of milk. I try to steer clear of coffee before a race, it makes me nauseous for some odd reason.
Banana and a scoop of protein mixed with almond milk. Oh and coffee. Coffee is always a must;)
A little banana and peanut butter :-)
I usually do oatmeal with honey and pumpkin seeds but recently have been mixing it up with sprouted toast, pb2, bananas, honey & hemp hearts!
Awesome giveaway!! I’m a pasta girl too before a race!
Are you running this? Maybe we could finally be same-race-day-twins if I win ;)
Love steel cut oatmeal with a large dollop of natural peanut (or almond) butter OR almond milk, banana & chocolate powder. Days leading up to, lots of water, Nuun and pasta/rice/tortillas.
I don’t do anything out of the ordinary pre-race. I try to keep everything normal which I have found keeps the body in check.
Peanut butter! I eat a piece of whole grain bread toasted with some peanut butter on it and half a cup of coffee.
bagel + almond butter or peanut butter before a race
Almond butter stuffed dates…easy to travel wo needing a fridge!
Great post!!!!
Bagel and Peanut Butter- best pre-race snack!
Banana, peanut butter sandwich
Pre-race fuel is usually oatmeal with a banana, and some Vega Pre-Workout Energizer – that stuff pumps me up!
On race day, I stick to 1/4 cup of steel cut oats, topped off with chia seeds & almond milk!
Half of a whole grain bagel with peanut butter and a banana
Pre-race, night before fuel is always baked chicken and roasted red potatoes. The Nike Women’s SF lottery has been swing and a miss for me the last two years. Thank you for this opportunity…fingers crossed!
Banana, Plain Oat meal, w/ Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk…YUM!
Almond butter and a banana!
coffee, a banana, and peanut butter on whole grain English muffin
Seed bread toast with peanut butter!
My pre-race fuel is usually a Luna Bar mini. Being able to come “home” to SF to run this race would be a dream. I haven’t missed a Nike SF since I started running in 2010 and would be heartbroken to not “get in” this year! Thanks for the opportunity.
Almond butter on whole wheat bread or a banana,if it is a short run (less than a half.
Recently, my pre-race fuel has been oatmeal with maple syrup. And coffee!
Awesome! Unfortunately the nearest Whole Foods is a 45 min drive from where I live now, but I do enjoy going in there and checking things out when I’m in the vescinity of one. I do miss their prepared options!
Definitely a banana, and a half a bagel or some toast is what I eat pre-race.
Banana with peanut butter and jelly! Great way to start a race
Oatmeal with raspberries and granola is definitely my go-to!
Peanut butter on toast and a banana!
Zip fizz, toasted bagel with almond butter and a banana 3 hours before race time :)
Spoonful of PB and a banana for me!
A banana and whole wheat toast with peanut butter for me.
Almond butter on a whole wheat English muffin with banana slices is my go to pre run fuel.
I stick wi almond butter or peanut butter on a toast. Sometimes with a banaa
I eat bananas or pretzels and nut butter plus coffee
Banana and nuun tablets
Carbs, carbs, carbs! Mmmmm…
Pre-race fuel is oatmeal. with a bit of fruit. I also rink a litre of Nuun the night before. :-)
Always PB on toast! :)
Pb on toast and a banana
Not expecting lightning to strike twice from your blog, Pavey but what the heck? My favorite pre-race fuel is peanut butter, toast and banana.
Clif bar, banana and coffee.
I would so love to win your giveaway. I have not been picked in the lottery the two times I have tried for this race.
Natural peanut butter on sprouted grain toast.
Quinoa and chicken!
Pre race dinner is usually pasta and breads – my stomach is sensitive, so I like to keep it simple. Pre race breakfast is a banana and either peanut butter toast or even better, a peanut butter bagel!
I’m crazy – pre-race dinner is PIZZA! :) Before the race I prefer to have peanut butter toast and an apple.
Oatmeal (gluten free) from Whole Foods is my go-to for pre-race. At Nike Women’s you need a ton of fuel to make it up those hills.
BTW, I’m about to get into “baby food making” stage, I’ll need some tips from you Pavey!
Chicken and sweet potatoes!
Pancakes before a big run. Has never let me down…or upset my stomach :)
pre-race …. day-of, gotta go with my fav of toast with almond butter and a bit of honey… yummmmm!!!! :-)
usually a muffin, or energy bar.
Thanks for the second chance entry!!! I’m like a little kid PB&J pre race :)
Margarita flavored blocks
bananas
Justin’s peanut butter on a bagel!
Chicken and waffles! It’s a bit crazy, but it gets me ready!
Almond milk, chia seeds, banana & Justin’s almond butter on wheat bagel/english muffin!
For longer races – Everything bagel with either salmon and cream cheese or with just almond butter. For shorter distances – cup of yogurt works great for me.
My pre race fuel is tilapia for dinner the night before. I drink red bull race day morning. Maybe eat some pecans and walnuts.
I would so love to be in this race! Of course, before running I would make sure I “pasta up” the night before, and drink lots of water. The morning of, half a protein bar and some more water!!
I would love to run the Nike Half Marathon!!!
Oops…my pre-race fuel is Bananas!!!
I like bagels with pb and jelly!!
Pb&j
An organic banana
This is so on my bucket list!…like so many others, obviously! Thanks for the info and the giveaway :-)
I WANT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like toast with pb!
I’ve always wanted to run and be in San Fran!! #nikerunning
I like Oatmeal!
Anything with peanut butter is my to go pre race fuel. :)
I will usually have a banana with a bagel with peanut butter! :)
It’s 2014 in San Francisco, where are the fire women in tuxedos to hand out necklaces :)
i usually have a bagel with peanut butter with a banana on the side :)
I’d love to do this race!! :) #allthingsnike :) toast with almond butter & ‘nana. :)
Let’s do this! NWM all the way!
P.S. Oatmeal, banana and nut butter for my morning pre-race fuel!
I wish there was a Whole Foods within a thousand miles of me. Sigh.
And my pre-race fuel is oatmeal and COFFEE (not together).
Pre-race I always have a cliff bar. It’s a weird tradition I’ve done before every distance race but it works!
I always have an apple, my oatmeal, and a couple cups of coffee!
I use Energybits!
I usually have a little egg whites with a some peanut butter and bananas on some toast. Filling but not too heavy pre-race! I’m running this race alone so I would love to have a running buddy!
Espresso GU! If there’s a few hours before the race I have a pb & almond butter 1/2 sandwich.
peanut butter, banana and a tortilla!
Always the same. Oatmeal, coffee and half a banana
cup of joe… water, PB & banana! boom.
Oatmeal and a Picky Bar!
Ramen seems to work for me!
My race day favorite is 3/4 cup of
steel cut oats, topped off with chia seeds and unsweetened almond milk!