It's part of a layered approach. Beet juice, caffeine, bicarb, 3x weekly sauna heat training, and bi-weekly epo/HGH micro-dosing with 4x/week micro blood transfusions going into big races + a healthy pre-race dose of amphetamines.
Bi-carb has been a thing as far back as I can remember. Guys in the 70-80's did it. Talked about it in Ex. Phys class in college (90's). Nothing new here. The big difference is some companies are now selling it in a different package acting like it's a new discovery. The old guys used Arm and Hammer Baking Soda that we all had sitting in the fridge. Experimented until you got the dosage correct so you didn't miss the gun because you where in the bathroom.
The 1500 "up" part makes the question more challenging and vague. At 1500-10k, I bet more than 70% of the high level pros are using it (lower level pros can't afford it if they aren't getting it free). Beyond 10k, it falls, but its probably still 50% at marathon distance. Not commenting on how well it works, but the high level pros are all drinking the bicarb koolaid, which probably tells you something (it works).
Use of bicarb and other base powders have been around for a very long time.
In mid to late 1970s I used a self formulated recipe of baking soda mixed with and a couple base powders with what I think was some success. At my school (now NCAA D-2) I won conference and districts three out of four years (first year was second to a guy that eventually went to the Olympics).
It took a little trial and error to get the dosage right and many if not most used a some of caffeine as well.
Of course this was 'back in the day' (pre Gatorade even) when we used de-fizzed Coca Cola during marathons. Heck, raw bee pollen was big thing even. Sprinkled on top of oatmeal and cold cereals
Post college years got really lucky and won a TAC (now called USATF) national championship. And set all my very modest PRs
Are caffeine and bicarb PEDs? Yes, they were and still are, but they are legal.
That's closer to the percentages of runners at each level who ever know about it let alone how it works and what it can do. Even if their coaches mention it for most part it's in one ear and out the other.
Even at the elite level the percentage probably isn't higher than single digits. It's a gimmick, and while familiar it's not even a big enough deal to be much of a fad right now.
If Bicarb was as good as some people say, everyone would be using it.
Just like supershoes, everyone is using them, because they actually work. There are lots of fads in running that businesses can use to make a quick buck, Bicarb is one of them.
If Bicarb was as good as some people say, everyone would be using it.
Just like supershoes, everyone is using them, because they actually work. There are lots of fads in running that businesses can use to make a quick buck, Bicarb is one of them.
I believe it works for certain events. At least, I hope it does, because the jumps made in the men's 800m this year demand an explanation and if it isn't bicarb, then it's something a lot less legitimate
Bi-carb has been a thing as far back as I can remember. Guys in the 70-80's did it. Talked about it in Ex. Phys class in college (90's). Nothing new here. The big difference is some companies are now selling it in a different package acting like it's a new discovery. The old guys used Arm and Hammer Baking Soda that we all had sitting in the fridge. Experimented until you got the dosage correct so you didn't miss the gun because you where in the bathroom.
Yes, we've heard this a million times. Use of sodium bicarbonate has been around forever. Got it.
The news is, now you can take it (mostly) without the rather significant side effects. That makes a big difference. The devil is in the details.