Mountain Bike Race Nutrition

I'm doing proper mountain bike race in 1.5 weeks time!  It's an all girls race and I'm looking forward to it!  It's a 16 miler that I'm doing.

Been trying to get some training and long rides in. I'm sure I will come in last place, but I'm wanting to join for the experience and the motivation, rather than to make a good showing.

With that, I've never done anything like this and I don't really don't have a good grasp on 'carb loading' and 'race nutrition and hydration' , i.e. things that are being tossed about on the facebook page for the race.

Is this stuff really important for performance?  Does it really help?  Normally, J and I just eat a fry up in the morning before we go out and bring along water and a picnic, usually sarnies and cereal bars.    But we go for enjoyment on the trails, rather than for any speed or performance.

Anyone have any tips or ideas? 

I was a cross country runner in high school and we always had spaghetti dinners the night before our races just to add a few more carbs which could be burned on race day.  May be worth a try.

Thanks Beatlemania -

There must be something scientific for how much to eat, etc rather than just a big bowl of pasta, though? 

I'm sure there is but, I won't lie to you, I was just happy to have spaghetti on Friday nights and didn't really look into the optimal amount before a race.  Googling Carbohydrate Loading brought up several fitness websites which may be of some benefit to you.

Good luck PB!

Thanks both! 

The race ended up being 18 miles.  It was proper good mountain biking and it was incredibly fun, including going through rivers, jumps, bumps, single track, divets, rivets, etc and had a 374 meter elevation gain included in the track.  Great fun.

I did the race in a time of 02:39:24.  I was a good hour off the first place finisher and I placed 48 out of 52 people, but I don't care, I was having a great time, pushing hard, riding some amazing mountain bike track, and just enjoying the always beautiful scenery in the Caringorm mountains.    I spent the week before the race fighting off a chest infection, but felt really pretty good on race day.   

I ended up doing some slight carb loading the days up to the race, had a nice healthy breakfast of wholemeal toast with natural peanut butter and a banana a few hours before hand. About an hour before the race, I had a manuka honey-peanut-oat bar, then during the race had two energy gels, 1/2 a banana, one electrolyte only drink and one energy i.e. carb loaded fuel drink, plus lots of water.   I was actually really well fueled.  I had a nice recovery very sensible sized meal of pasta with chickpeas and tomato sauce and some cheese, plus a caramel rice cake. For the first time ever, I was not starving the day after. Success!!    

Wow PB!  Great job.  I'm so glad you enjoyed it.  I don't think I'd be able to walk for a week!   

Thanks KFDancer, I think I amazed myself with just how much I could actually do.  Was a wee bit sore yesterday, but feel good again today.  Now just want to make sure I don't lose my momentum! 

That is awesome, phatbeetle!  So glad that you enjoyed yourself and weren't starving later.  What you did sounds amazing!

Awesome and Wow from me too!  Jumps, bumps and divets, sounds so cool! Glad you had a great time!!    So when is your next race PB?

Thanks 

I must say, I'm a wee bit proud of myself. Always being a fat girl and never able to do anything remotely athletic, I am just so happy that I have finally found an activity that I really really enjoy!

I'm already looking for opportunities to keep going