How I Fuel: Race Morning

Brittany Oliver, a former collegiate and now elite triathlete, shares how she prepares for a big race. 

Location
Ventura, Calif.

Occupation
Swim, triathlon and nutrition coach

Standout results
Earned USA Triathlon elite license at the Detroit Triathlon Elite Development race in 2015

Backstory
Oliver started racing triathlon while a sophomore at UCLA in 2008 after deciding the women’s swim team wasn’t for her. In 2009, she finished top five at the USAT Collegiate National Championship and was named a USAT All American in 2009, 2010 and 2013. After earning her elite card last year, she’s stuck to mainly sprint and Olympic distances, especially draft-legal style.

RELATED – How I Fuel: Half-Iron Training

How I Fuel

The days leading up to a race, I like to pay extra attention to staying hydrated throughout the day. I try to keep caffeine to a minimum to set myself up to get some good quality sleep at night and reap the benefits of caffeine on race morning. I sometimes get a bit phlegmy with dairy foods, so if it is a really important race I might steer clear of milk, cheese and ice cream a few days before the race.

At least 2 hours before the race start, I usually either have a bowl of oatmeal (with raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and almond milk) that I have pre-mixed in a mason jar, or a toasted bagel with natural peanut butter and honey.

I typically bring a bag of green tea and drink a cup of that or have a caffeinated sports drink between breakfast and warm-up. I like Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix with green tea and lemons because it is made with quality ingredients and has a natural caffeine boost. Then I have a banana or Honey Stinger Gel Gold about 15 minutes before the start. I like honey because it is easy to digest/absorb and makes me feel like my tank is fully topped off before the start.

RELATED: A Kona Qualifier Shares Her Pre-Ironman Fueling Strategy