i once asked i dietician i work with about using ensure as a supplement (she also happens to be a marathon runner). she advised against it, telling me that while it is loaded with calories and carbs, it has too much of the "bad" types of fat in it (not too sure how to differentiate "bad" fats from "good" fats myself, but i have heard of this before). i myself have been known to drink a can of that instant breakfast stuff the morning of a race (at least 3 hours prior to start time) because i have a hard time eating solid foods early in the morning, especially when i'm a bit nervous. i have my first 1/2 IM also planned for this season. my plan for race morning is to try and choke down a bagel with peanut butter and maybe a couple of eggs a few hours before the start. i've been practicing eating all this stuff a couple of mornings a week to get myself used to it. like the last post said, i would avoid doing anything too different from what you're used to on race morning. good luck!

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"I'm happy when life's good,
and when it's bad I cry.
I've got values but I don't know how or why."
- The Who