pre-run food is genuinely where I keep getting it wrong

Honestly I've been training for ultras long enough that I should have this figured out but I still mess it up. Eat too close to the run — dead legs and a weird heavy feeling in my chest going uphill. Eat too early and I'm bonking by mile 8. To be fair the Lake District doesn't let you get away with bad fuelling, the climbs are relentless and they will absolutely find your weak point. What I've landed on lately: oats and banana about 90 mins before, small matcha before I head out because it doesn't spike me the same way coffee does — I just feel steadier. And water. Way more water than feels necessary the evening before a long one. That bit made the biggest difference tbh, more than any food tweak. Still figuring out what works mid-run though. Gels make me feel a bit grim after a while.