Active Community : All Content - Sports Nutrition for Runners

Any decent energy bars out there?

Ericd3043 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:42:07 GMT

I went to the store thinking about getting a few for before/ after races. The selection was HUGE.... and I was lost. Any suggestions/ recommendations?

Should low calorie 'sports' drinks have a place at marathons?

Martin Spierings — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:26:56 GMT

Here's an article I wrote for a local paper. What do people think?

In the Long Run: A time and place for 'sports' drinks

There are so many "sports" and "energy" products out there that I don't blame athletes for getting confused sometimes.

It seems preying on this confusion is the very intent of marketers desperate to find a point of difference for their product.

A wealth of independent scientific research and knowledge is available on sports nutrition and physiology, but it too often gets buried and muddled under the weight of money, marketing and promotions.

At the California International Marathon in two weeks, Ultima Replenisher will be available on the course as the official sports drink of the event.

On the company Web site, a professional triathlete admonishes other sports drinks for using sugar and salt and flaunts Ultima as being packed full of electrolytes.

While excess consumption of sugar -- a carbohydrate -- in your day-to-day diet is bad for your health, it is widely accepted that carbohydrate supplementation during prolonged exercise delays the onset of fatigue.

Kind of a useful thing during a marathon, don't you think?

Just as bizarre is the demonizing of salt -- or sodium chloride -- which is also an electrolyte. Most of you know during exercise you lose sodium chloride in the form of sweat. Replacing this sodium is recommended by scientists to avoid muscle cramps and hyponatremia [a condition of low sodium which has in some cases led to death in marathons].

Otherwise, low concentrations of other electrolytes are found in sweat, so it follows that sodium may be the one electrolyte of some use in a drink designed for endurance sports. I agree sports/energy drinks are over consumed in America by the general population but let's not forget why and for what they were developed for in the first place.

While I understand money margins are tight for race directors, professional athletes and coaches, they have a responsibility not to mislead the athletes they serve by promoting products that make unscrupulous claims.

Martin Spierings won the Santa Cruz Sprint Triathlon this year and coaches endurance athletes. His column on running and triathlon appears monthly in Outside. Contact him at www.tricoachmartin.com or try the discussion on his blog at tricoachmartin.blogspot.com.

Spierings, M. (2009, November 20). In the Long Run: A time and place for 'sports' Drinks. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved from http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/ci_13830540

Whey Protein question

cyndi t — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:51:28 GMT

I just switched brands of Whey Protein powder from Designer Whey to Isoflex. Does anyone have any experience with whey isolates? Do you find better muscle recovery with isolates if you use it? I believe I've already seen an improvement (but its just been a few days) with stomach upset. Appreciate any feedback.

Cyndi

How do I delay the onset of tired legs over long distances?

PeteTheRunner — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:15:55 GMT

I'm training for my second marathon and will have completed the required base mileage. I think it's referred to as 'glycogen depletion'?? or whatever happens to the muscles over long runs that causes us to slow. I was wondering if there is any dietary regimen, stretching regimen etc. in addition to a training regimen that anyone has found successful in delaying that feeling of 'heavy legs'.?

GI problems while running

wende61 — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:35:34 GMT

Help! I just finished a half marathon ... had to relieve myself in the bushes at mile 10 due to diarrhea - ugh. This is not a first. I had taken two immodium pre-race and two more at mile 6. Am scheduled to run my first full marathon in 3 weeks.Desperately seeking advice!

Coffee--good or bad?

Kaenman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:30:21 GMT

I read that coffee boosts metabolism and can give higher performance on an endurance run. I drink mine black and a drink a lot! What are the positives? What are the negatives?

Best Training Diet Idea??

SMBYRNE — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:32:45 GMT

What is the best diet to follow while training for a half marathon that allows you to loose weight.

Help? Why does my appetite increase so much?

Julie RB — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:31:37 GMT

I have not actually run in quite awhile but I miss it terribly - the problem is that I usually get up to 3-5 miles 4-5 times a week and my appetite is almost instant! I can not seem to get enough food so in turn I gain weight! Does anyone else experience this and have any suggestions?

I am not obese however I could lose about 10-15 lbs and be much happier, the last thing I want to to gain! I am currently doing the P90x workouts but I miss being outside running!! HELP??

Protein/Carb post workout drink mix

runjjjrun — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:21:34 GMT

Anyone have a suggestion for a good post workout protein/carb drink mix? I am not looking for chocolate milk, something more like what PowerBar makes.

Thanks!

jjjhawk88

Diet recommendations for noob runner

JesseOwens — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:32:17 GMT

I was overweight, about 280 lbs. at the end of January 2009. I went on a crash/starvation diet at first and lost about 30 lbs . . then plateaued. Next I found a book by professsional weight trrainers that enlightened me on diet with execise and I lost another 30 lbs since. My current diet is the same as I have been doing since I read that book about 3 months. It consists of mostly high fiber grains, fruits, vegetables, and lots of water.

I started running about 6 months ago and have worked up slowly to running about 4-5 miles at a time.

My question is, why am I not losing any more weight? I have been at the same weight now for over a month and no matter what I try . . . even starving myself . . . I stay the same weight, within a few pounds. I am at 220 now, but I want to get back down to my "normal" weight of 190.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks.