Don’t Carb-Load Blindly. Here’s What to Eat the Night Before a Big Race, According to Experts

As a first-time racer, the learning curve is steep. Beyond whatever your coach tells you on the Nike Run Club app, new and veteran runners alike often find themselves guessing when it comes to the technicalities of pacing, recovery, and the sheer volume of gear involved. You’ve spent months obsessing over the details and adding the best carbon-plated shoes or "race-day only" gels to your cart to ensure you have the best performance possible. But as the sun sets on the night before the starting gun, one high-stakes question remains.