If what you eat before running a 10k is important, what you fill up on the night before a 10-miler is even more crucial. Carb-loading is something many of us long-distance runners swear by for staying energised throughout our adventures – but it has to be done right. Don’t go thinking that carb-loading means mindlessly eating your weight in pasta and pizza; it’s actually a pretty delicate science. The point of carb-loading is to fill your muscles up with glycogen so that they have plenty of fuel to use during the run. The further you go, the more important it’ll be to have good stores already in place from the day before – topped up with a pre-run breakfast on the day and perhaps a few power gels or dates en route. 

One delicious way of ensuring that you’ve got plenty of muscle-loving energy stored away is to make a bowl of caramelisd banana and coconut rice pudding the night before. The ultimate comfort food, it’s the perfect pud for having as you wind down ahead of your big morning run. Bananas are full of complex carbs, potassium and vitamin B6 – all of which can boost energy levels, while rice itself is an easy-access carb. Coconut milk is packed with antioxidants, electrolytes, iron and fats, all of which help to maintain energy and performance while you run.