What’s Your Fuel?

My main goal for tomorrow's race is to perform as well as I can. That doesn't necessarily mean I want to place better than last time. I'm more interested in coming to the race better prepared, sufficiently warmed up, and well-fueled so that I can be in control of the situation, and feel as good as can reasonably be expected through as much of the race as possible. I bonked pretty early at the first race, and while I was able to recover somewhat by the end, I was never operating at my full potential, and was never able to improve upon the small gains I made during the first lap.

Although I believe there were several components to this, I think the major contributing factor may have been a shortage of fuel. Being my first race, I was pretty nervous and had very little desire to eat. I managed to eat some toast, but that didn't provide me with the power I needed to get through the race.

So tonight and tomorrow, I intend to eat for the race. I do have some ideas of what this means for me, but I'd like to hear what you do to fuel up for a race. A mountain of pasta the night before? A bowl of oatmeal raceday morning? Liquids and gels only?

What gets you to the finish line?