Protein in my Fuel

Steve Carton — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:16:03 GMT

A few months ago, after reading a bunch of stuff from Hammer Nutrition on the subject of protein cannabilization and long runs, I started trying their "Sustained Energy" product which has some protein mixed in with the carbs. This stuff is kind of a pain for me to use - I do my runs after work in the evenings and the mixed form of this stuff starts going bad after a few hours. So I fill a couple of dry gel bottles with the powder and leave it sit all day. Then, just before heading out to run, I add water and shake well. I played with this for 4-5 long runs, I think plenty to see how it works out.

Well, I have to say, I'm going to stop using it. Nothing against Hammer. And I'm sure this works well for manypeople, just not so well for me. First, I'd prefer to simply carry a gel packet than a belt and bottles, especially during a race. The belts wear on me after a while. Second, I just don't like the flavor of the mix. It's not bad, but it sure doesn't inspire me! Third, and this is the real issue, I think they leave me constipated for several days after a long run. The gels just don't do that too me.

Fuel and Fluids

Steve Carton — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:47:14 GMT

Here's a question, probably with no right answer. In running a

marathon, how much fuel (gels or otherwise) do you consume. How much

fluid? I realize that the latter is especially dependent on the heat

and humidity of the run, but I'm trying to guage how I fare compared to

other marathoners.

Personally, I follow this rough schedule: 1 gel (I use CarBoom) at the

first hour and every half hour after that. 1 Succeed capsule every hour

for electrolytes. At least 2-3 cups of water at every stop. The fuel

schedule is something I determined during training partly as a way to

not feel hungry, but more importantly to keep from going into Ketosis.

Now, I'm not medicine man, but there are times in training runs when

I've tasted something like amonia in my gut. I think

this means I'm consuming muscle and am out of glycogen. But maybe

that's wrong. I do notice that on the above fuel schedule, I don't

taste the amonia taste. But I do wonder if I should front load the fuel

more, building it up for the later stages of the run.

But as far as fluids go, especially in the Frederick Marathon last

weekend, I felt dehydrated all day, and especially in the last half of

the run. There were plenty of water stops, but the cups were very small

and often filled only 1/3 full. I'm guessing these were about 3 oz of

water per cup. So I would drink 2-3 at each stop. But I think maybe I

needed more.

Blog Posts From Turtle Training Tagged With fuel

Protein in my Fuel

Fuel and Fluids