Here is a great bit of advice on carb-loading before the big day, i’ll probably follow this to some extent …

How to carbo load:

All through race training, 60 to 70 percent of your diet (3 to 4 grams per pound of body weight) should come from carbohydrates. Keep this up. The last three days before the race, increase the amount of carbohydrates in your diet to at least 4 grams – or 70 percent.

Carbohydrate loading is not binge eating. Maintain your daily caloric intake. Since you’re exercising less, this will provide adequate energy as you burn 600 to 1,000 fewer calories per day while tapering.

Remember, more is not better. Eating excessively can lead to intestinal distress, and your muscles will be no better fueled than if you had eaten sensibly. Also, carbo loading is not done to the exclusion of other nutrients. While carbo loading you should:

* maintain protein intake at .6 to .9 grams per pound of body weight;
* keep fat consumption at 20 to 25 percent of your diet;
* stay away from unfamiliar foods – this is not the time to experiment; and
* drink a lot of water (at least four to eight extra glasses) and avoid dehydrating beer, wine, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages.

If you load properly, you can put on two to four pounds. For each pound of glycogen you store, you will capture about three to five pounds of water. On a limited basis, this water is available during exercise, and reduces dehydration.

In the last 48 hours before a race avoid high-fiber foods like beans, bran cereals, lettuce, broccoli, to avoid gassy cramps, bloating and loose stools

Hmm, not sure about the “gassy cramps, bloating and loose stools …”, thats pretty funny although i’ve seen it happen ..