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  #1   ^
Old Mon, Nov-06-06, 14:23
AL W AL W is offline
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Posts: 75
 
Plan: Protein Power, Atkins
Stats: 282/248/220 Male 6'4"
BF:30%/26%/10%
Progress: 55%
Location: Ontario
Default LC marathoning

I read recently that elite marathoners transition smoothly from carb burning to fat burning and never hit the wall.
Do any elite marathoners eat LC?
Can any LCers comment on LC and the wall or generally how it went?
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  #2   ^
Old Mon, Nov-06-06, 15:33
kaypeeoh kaypeeoh is offline
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Posts: 1,216
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 185/180/165
BF:
Progress: 25%
Default

Just a guess, but at most I think runners may train on low carb but on race day they pig out on pasta and swallow Gu every few miles of the race. It is difficult to run long distances while depending on fat for energy. Every distance runner knows that after a few miles the body shifts over to fat-burning. But fat, being a cold energy source, means you will run slower than you would if loaded with pasta.

"The Wall" is thought to be the point where you run out of glycogen, around 20 miles for most runners. But you can't store more than 10 miles worth of muscle glycogen so all runners are burning fat in the latter stages of a race. Another theory is the wall is the point where you are overwhelmed by the toxins produced by severe effort: lactic acid, electolyte imbalance, dehydration, that sort of thing.

My CV: Over thirty marathons, a dozen ultras and three 100 mile runs.
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  #3   ^
Old Mon, Nov-06-06, 15:33
AmoryBlain's Avatar
AmoryBlain AmoryBlain is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,932
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 225/143/155 Female 5'10''
BF:38%/21.4%/24.9%
Progress: 117%
Default

There are some threads in the Intense exercise forum on this topic, but I have found the transition pretty easy. I actually hit the wall LATER on very low carb than when I would "carb up" before races and long Saturday runs during training season. While I don't consider myself an "elite" athlete, several of the people I marathon and train with function well on low carb, though they still cling to the belief they need pasta the night before races. I find I'm okay up to ten or twelve miles, then I need to supplement with small pieces of a protein bar, sugar-free Gu or Hammergel, and an electrolyte infused drink. I typically dilute Gatorade with three parts water or make my own, sf version (stolen from forum user mike_d). I don't worry too much about carbs from Gatorade while running, merely because those glucose molecules are used instantaneously.

I will admit the transition was easier for me than most since I didn't start seriously running and training until AFTER I had started low carb. I didn't marathon officially until after two full years on Atkins. I know of studies that have been done where elite endurance athletes have trained successfully on low carb, but the sources escape me now.

I did bonk one time at about 8 miles, but I didn't eat enough protein for breakfast; what I did eat I ate too close to the gun time, and I didn't pace myself enough. Not only did I bonk, but I also cramped and tossed my cookies. It was only a ten mile road run, but I felt pretty pathetic crossing the finish line at a turtle's gait, looking pale, ill, and like I'd never run a day in my life.

Hope that helps!

Amory

Last edited by AmoryBlain : Mon, Nov-06-06 at 15:36. Reason: punctuation hinkypunks
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  #4   ^
Old Mon, Nov-06-06, 15:37
SunnyCarol's Avatar
SunnyCarol SunnyCarol is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,409
 
Plan: Atkins OWL
Stats: 296/178/150 Female 5'5"
BF:Much less
Progress: 81%
Location: Shenandoah Valley of VA
Default

I would question whether "elite marathoners" have enough body fat to make that possible. Most have very lean body mass and little fat.

Sunny!
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  #5   ^
Old Mon, Nov-06-06, 15:38
AmoryBlain's Avatar
AmoryBlain AmoryBlain is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,932
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 225/143/155 Female 5'10''
BF:38%/21.4%/24.9%
Progress: 117%
Default

Haha, Kaypeeoh, I KNEW I'd run into you in this thread!

The title of this post was like bait.
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  #6   ^
Old Mon, Nov-06-06, 15:46
AL W AL W is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 75
 
Plan: Protein Power, Atkins
Stats: 282/248/220 Male 6'4"
BF:30%/26%/10%
Progress: 55%
Location: Ontario
Default

Thanks Amory,
Good info.
I'm a long way away from running a marathon but it's in the bak of my mind as a long term goal.

AL
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  #7   ^
Old Mon, Nov-06-06, 16:17
kaypeeoh kaypeeoh is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 1,216
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 185/180/165
BF:
Progress: 25%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmoryBlain
Haha, Kaypeeoh, I KNEW I'd run into you in this thread!

The title of this post was like bait.


With stress fractures in both ankles, I'm not running and therefore have too much time for lurking on this website. :-)
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