If you’re running the Livestrong Austin Marathon next Sunday (February 19th), you might be wondering about the concept known as “carbohydrate-loading.” If you’re new to marathoning and have never heard of this, it’s an important concept to understand before next week.
Simply put, carbo-loading is when you switch over to a carbohydrate-rich diet in the last days before a marathon as a way to extend your endurance. That’s why almost all marathons have a pre-race pasta party the night before the race.
Done properly, carbohydrate-loading with the proper foods can help you maintain your marathon goal pace longer in the race. The reason this works is that muscle glycogen—the energy needed for running—can be loaded up in a runner’s legs to twice their normal level. The more glycogen you have in your legs, the longer you can run.
Conversely, when the body depletes its glycogen store in the muscles, marathoners hit the proverbial “wall.” Again, if you can store up as much glycogen as possible in the days before the marathon, you can maintain your endurance longer.
Sounds good?
Well it is and it isn’t hard to follow. Next week, in the final countdown to Livestrong, you eat a normal, healthy diet for the first three or four days with carbs making up approximately 50 percent of your total calories. (Check the labels and a cookbook for serving sizes and caloric content.)
Starting on Thursday (February 16), you boost your carbohydrate intake to about 70 percent (or higher) of your total calories.
During this final week, you should be reducing your total volume of running anyway, and with that reduction in your running and the increase in carbohydrates, you will be able to store a greater amount of muscle glycogen than if you were running and eating normally.
The type of carbohydrates you eat does make a difference. You should go for complex carbohydrates such as pasta, veggies, rice, cereals, fruits and potatoes, rather than simple carbohydrates like cookies, cakes and candy.
Protein will not help a great deal, but you don’t have to avoid it. The more protein you eat, the less carbs you can cram in—and carbs are what you need. So it’s an easy choice.
When you begin carbo-loading, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to eat substantially more than normal. Only the percentage of carbs should be upped, not the total intake.
Carbohydrate-loading only works when you’re running an hour or longer. So it won’t make any difference in shorter races, such as a 5-K. But carbo-loading is especially useful in a marathon because you will eventually deplete the muscle glycogen stores.
The problem is you can only store a finite amount of glycogen in your muscles—not enough for most runners to complete the 26.2-mile marathon. Most runners will run out of glycogen after about three hours of running. When that happens, you run out of gas and will experience a huge drop off in your ability to run.
Since few of us can run a three-hour marathon, the only way to avoid the dreaded wall is to take on carbohydrates during the race so you don’t run out of glycogen.
The best way to do this is either by drinking carbohydrate sports drinks during the race and/or using carbohydrate gels, Gu’s or Shot Bloks.
You should drink carbohydrate sports drinks about every 20 minutes of Livestrong. Gatorade is the drink of choice and Livestrong will distribute Lemon-Lime Endurance Formula Gatorade (and water) at every one of the aid stations at every mile along the course. The first aid station tables at every mile will have Gatorade. The following tables will have water. Aid station volunteers will be shouting out which drink they have.
Clearly, drinking is imperative during the marathon. Downing one or two cups of Gatorade every other mile will not only prevent dehydration (as will water), but the carbs in Gatorade will replace the muscle glycogen you are depleting as you run
You should be familiar with the various gels you plan to take in the marathon. The gels are thick, carbohydrate-rich products that are available under such brand names as Gu, Hammer Gel, PowerGel, Cliff Shots or Shot Bloks and others. These come in packets that contain 100-125 calories of quickly digestible carbs that you can slam down with some water. Since you’ll need water to get them down, you should plan to take your energy gels at an aid station. (Please note: Don’t take any gels or Gu’s with Gatorade. Use only water.)
The Livestrong aid stations will not have energy gels, so you’ll either need to carry a supply with you or have someone give you a few packets along the course. Most marathoners carry them in pockets in their shorts or clip them onto their shorts. Some running shorts made by BOA have specially designed pockets in the back for carrying gel packs.
Carbohydrate-reloading is also important in the first two hours after the marathon. The sooner you reload your muscles with the same complex carbs you loaded with, the quicker you’ll recover.
When you load or reload, it is also important to drink plenty of water as it helps the muscles absorb the carbohydrates.
If you do carbo load and drink properly, you should have plenty of fuel in the long run. Good luck next Sunday.
